Hardoncourt v. North Penn Iron Co.

Citations

• 225 Pa. 379
• 74 A. 243
• 1909 Pa. LEXIS 668

Syllabus

<p>Libel — Corporation—Authority of officer — Scope of authority.</p> <p>1. A corporation may be held liable for a libel published by its officer acting within the scope of his authority.</p> <p>2. A verdict against a corporation for damages for libel will be sustained, where the evidence shows that the libelous matter consisted of a letter signed with the name of the corporation, and the treasurer’s name as such, that the letter contained grave charges affecting the character of the plaintiff, a former employee of the defendant, and was sent to various persons with the evident object of protecting the company’s business from competition by the plaintiff, and that the person who signed the letter was not only a treasurer and director, but was in fact the general manager of the company.</p> <p>Practice, C. P. — Judgment non obstante veredicto — Appeals.</p> <p>3. A judgment non obstante veredicto may be entered only in cases where binding directions to the jury would have been proper at the trial.</p> <p>4. Where the appellate court reverses a judgment non obstante veredicto, it will remit the record to the common pleas with leave to reinstate the rule for a new trial, in order that such judgment may be entered thereon as law and right require. In this way an opportunity is given to the defendant to appeal.</p>