Billet v. Times-Democrat Publishing Co.

Citations

• 107 La. 751

Syllabus

<p>Syllabus.</p> <p>1. In an action ior damages for libel, where “privilege” is set up as a defense, the evidence should be confined to the question of privilege, vel non, save in so far as it may be admissible in mitigation of damages.</p> <p>2. In such á case, an amendment setting up the truth of the alleged libel in justification, may be allowed, if the offer to amend be reasonable as to time. The defense Is not Inconsistent with that of “privilege,” and there is no change of issue in the sense of substituting one issue for another.</p> <p>3. Reports made by police and detective officers to their superiors and inscribed in books kept for that purpose are not judicial proceedings and no privilege protects their publication. Nor, does any privilege protect the publication of the opinions, suspicions, or deductions, of such officers, otherwise imparted, whether to their superiors or to other persons.</p>