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Full-Text Articles in Law
New York Times Rule Extended To Criminal Libel, Anon
New York Times Rule Extended To Criminal Libel, Anon
Washington Law Review
Defendant, a district attorney, issued a statement to the press accusing eight parish judges of laziness, inefficiency in office, taking excessive vacations, and hindering his enforcement of the state's vice laws. Louisiana convicted defendant of a violation of a Criminal Defamation Statute, rejecting his argument that the statute violated the first amendment guarantee of free speech. On appeal to the United States Supreme Court, held: The first amendment is violated by a state statute which permits punishment of (1) truthful criticism of public officials, or (2) false statements about public officials made with ill will, but without knowledge of the …
Torts—Abolition Of Doctrine Of Charitable Immunities, Anon
Torts—Abolition Of Doctrine Of Charitable Immunities, Anon
Washington Law Review
The doctrine of charitable immunity in Washington appears to have been finally abolished by two recent decisions of the Washington Supreme Court. In Friend v. Cove Methodist Chuch, Inc., 65 Wash. Dec.2d 155, 396 P.2d 546 (1964), plaintiffs attended a smorgasbord dinner at defendant's church as "invited members of the public." Directed to a certain door as leading to the kitchen, plaintiff wife opened the door and was severely injured when she fell into an open furnace pit. In the second decision, Herbert v. Corporation of Catholic Archbishop, 65 Wash. Dec.2d 165, 396 P.2d 552 (1964), plaintiff attended a Rosary …
Torts—Intentional Interference With Contractual Relationship—Malicious Interference With Attorney-Client Relationship, Anon
Washington Law Review
The Washington Supreme court recently decided a case having personal as well as professional interest to the legal profession. Plaintiff, an attorney, was requested by a widow to make arrangements whereby she could continue her deceased husband's business, and initiated probate of the husband's estate. Defendants, tax consultants and certified public accountants, were later retained by the widow to perform the estate's tax work. At defendant's urging, the widow selected another attorney from a list furnished by defendants and terminated plaintiff's employment. Plaintiff, upon inquiry, was informed by defendants that they hired and fired attorneys for their clients. Plaintiff sued …
Torts—Admissibility Of Extrinsic Evidence As Proof Of Libel Per Se, Anon
Torts—Admissibility Of Extrinsic Evidence As Proof Of Libel Per Se, Anon
Washington Law Review
The dubious distinction between libel per se and libel per quod may be non-existent in Washington following a recent supreme court decision. Plaintiff was divorced from his former wife, Hazel, on February 3, 1960. In September 1960, he married his present wife. Thereafter plaintiff instituted a suit to modify the divorce decree. Defendant newspaper, in reporting this suit, printed the following statement: "Divorce Granted-Hazel M. Pitts from Phillip Pitts." Plaintiff sued defendant for libel, alleging that considering extrinsic facts the publication was libelous per se; it gave the impression that plaintiff's second marriage was illegal and that he was a …
Torts—Municipal Liability—"Natural Causes"—Climatic Conditions And Vehicular Traffic, Anon
Torts—Municipal Liability—"Natural Causes"—Climatic Conditions And Vehicular Traffic, Anon
Washington Law Review
A municipality is generally not liable for injuries which result from the "natural causes" of snow and ice on city sidewalks. Three recent Alaska decisions held that pedestrian and vehicular traffic which caused rough surfaces on sidewalks and crosswalks were also "natural causes."