Handley v. May

OPINION

FRANKS, Judge.

This is an action for slander, presenting on appeal as a principal issue whether the plaintiff, as a matter of law, must plead in his complaint the precise words proved at trial.

The complaint alleges defendant had told one W. A. Jones, Sr., that plaintiff was “a member of organized crime and was acting in consort with other members of organized crime in Knoxville and surrounding communities.” Jones’ testimony was offered by deposition at the trial and he stated defendant had said to him that “Dan Bectol, who is the manager of Credit Bureau in Knoxville, was connected with…