Kahanamoku v. Advertiser PubLishing Co.

Citations

• 25 Haw. 701

Syllabus

<p>Libel and Slander — pleading—falsity of publication need not be alleged.</p> <p>It is not necessary for tbe plaintiff in a civil action for libel to allege tbe falsity of tbe libelous publication, but if tbe defendant desires to justify the publication by showing it to be true that comes in as a defense under a proper pleading in bis behalf.</p> <p>Same — same—special damages when not necessary.</p> <p>If tbe publication complained of is libelous per se special damages need not be alleged or proven but general and punitive damages may be recovered.</p> <p>Same — publication libelous per se when.</p> <p>If tbe language used of and concerning tbe plaintiff (when construed to mean what persons of ordinary intelligence reading it would reasonably understand it to mean) would tend to render bim contemptible or ridiculous in public estimation or expose him to public hatred or contempt it is libelous per se.</p> <p>Same — same.</p> <p>To publish of a person that be has not a sufficient job because be is a loafer or a slacker is libelous per se as such a charge tends to subject tbe person charged to social degradation and to the contempt of all right thinking people.</p>