Neaton v. Lewis Apparel Stores, Inc.

The complaint is in libel. It is founded upon a letter written by defendants to plaintiff’s *734employer, charging in effect that plaintiff was. in arrears in the payment of a single indebtedness. I agree with the Special Term that within the authorities there is nothing in the letter that, as pleaded, may be held to be libelous per se. To falsely so write as to a single account does not so expose one to obloquy, ridicule or disgrace or so cause one to be shunned, that general damage may be inferred.

In Woodruff v. Bradstreet Co. (116 N. Y. 217) cited by the Special Term, the gravamen of the…