General Market Co. v. Post Intelligencer Co.

Citations

• 96 Wash. 575
• 165 P. 482
• 1917 Wash. LEXIS 617

Syllabus

<p>Libel and Slander — Actionable Words — Violation of Food Law —Statutes. A news publication that plaintiff owned a quantity of cheese which was destroyed as unfit for human consumption, is not libelous per se as charging a violation of Rem. Code, § 5453, making it a misdemeanor to sell, or have in possession with intent to sell, adulterated food; since possession with intent to sell is an essential element of the offense.</p> <p>Same — Actionable Words — Injury to Business. It is not libelous per se as tending to injure the business of a dealer to publish as a news item that it owned part of a quantity of cheese, seized and destroyed by the state as unfit for food, there being no charge that the dealer had violated any statute or intended to sell the cheese.</p> <p>Same — Complaint—Special Damages. Where words are not libelous per se, it is necessary to allege special damages.</p>