Sousa v. Davenport

This is a defamation action consisting of three counts in libel and one (count 4) in slander. On June 27, 1974, the judge sustained the defendants’ demurrer to the declaration as a whole and to each count separately and on July 9 dismissed the action. 1. The demurrer was properly sustained as to the libel counts. The words alleged “cannot be reasonably understood in a defamatory sense.” Muchnick v. Post Publishing Co. 332 Mass. 304, 305 (1955). In particular, we are directed to no authority which supports the proposition that allegations simply of an individual’s poverty or unemployment are…