Lambert v. Cowles

Citations

• 76 Wash. 200
• 135 P. 1008
• 1913 Wash. LEXIS 1801

Syllabus

<p>Libel and Slander — Pleading—Answer—Justification — Particularity. The rule that, in an action for libel, a plea of justification must state the charge with the same degree of certainty as required in an indictment, has no application where the alleged libel does not impute the commission of a crime.</p> <p>Same. In an action for newspaper libel, in publishing of a candidate for reelection to a city office, that “he and his active followers have been the friends of favored contractors,” a plea of justification is sufficiently certain and specific, as against a demurrer, where the answer alleges the truth of the charge and that plaintiff was a close friend of B. & S., who were favored contractors and secured contracts from the city without the usual or legal requirements, and at exorbitant prices and were paid sums in excess of the reasonable value of work done (Gose, Chadwick, and Ellis, JJ., dissenting) .</p>