Law Commons^™

Some Implications Of The Constitutional Privilege To Defame, Robert E. Keeton

Vanderbilt Law Review

In this issue of the Vanderbilt Law Review we honor an extraordinary scholar, teacher, and Dean. It is a happy circumstance that the editors have offered us this opportunity at a time when we can confidently predict that Dean Wade will continue to serve us with great distinction in years ahead. The present article concerns some pending problems in the law of defamation that have already attracted Dean Wade's active interest. This seems a particularly fitting subject for inclusion in a symposium celebrating not only his distinguished past service but also a commencement incident to his release from decanal responsibility.

Variation On Libel Per Quod, Laurence H. Eldredge

Vanderbilt Law Review

During the nineteenth century it became settled common law in England and in the United States that in any action for libel, as distinct from slander, the plaintiff could recover damages without pleading or proving that he had in fact suffered any damages as a result of the publication. The American Law Institute accepted this as sound law. Volume III of the Restatement of Torts, published in 1938, stated the rule in section 569: "One who falsely, and without a privilege to do so, publishes matter defamatory to another in such a manner as to make the publication a libel …

The Free-Ness Of Free Speech, Robert A. Leflar

Vanderbilt Law Review

Freedom of speech under Anglo-American law has never been an absolute right, and numerous exercises of free speech (and of free press)have been subjected to inhibiting legal sanctions, both criminal and civil,almost from the beginning of our common law heritage. It is true that the Blackstonian rule prohibiting "previous restraints upon publications" purported, to protect absolutely the initial right to publish. But an absolute right to publish what one may thereafter be criminally punished or forced to pay civil damages for publishing is obviously illusory in its absoluteness.It is not an absolute right in any real sense of the term. …

Practical Problems In Preparation And Trial Of Libel Cases, Laurence H. Eldredge

Vanderbilt Law Review

Any deterrent to complete information about a candidate for admission to the bar is contrary to the public welfare. A conditional privilege is an affirmative defense, which must be pleaded and proved. Not until the defendant rests his case, after what may be a long and expensive trial, does he know where he stands on such a defense, and it is generally left to the lay jurors to decide, under "instructions." Life being what it is, only a few courageous lawyers will have the hardihood to run the risk of exposing themselves to a libel jury trial, with its uncertainties …

Libel Per Se And Special Damages, Alfred H. Knight Iii

Vanderbilt Law Review

Toward the end of the last century a few of the American courts began to express the view that allegation and proof of special damages is necessary in libel actions unless the defamatory meaning of the words is apparent on their face.' Although none of these courts appeared to realize it, this notion was entirely of their own invention. Under the orthodox theory, which went virtually unquestioned in the century preceding these decisions, all written defamation is actionable without proof of special damages, whether it is designated libel per se or libel per quod. Words which are defamatory on their …

Book Note, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Written primarily for the layman, this book reads much like a historical novel, detailing the lives of the two men whose personalities came into such violent conflict in a troubled time. Two-thirds of the book sets the stage for the trial which occupies the final third of the volume. The trial portion of the book consists mainly of quotes from the arguments of counsel, illustrating the rhetorical effects achieved by the attorneys in arguing a case that loomed large in the public eye. The authors--a husband and wife team, neither of whom appears to have a legal background--have successfully edited …

Books Received, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

BOOKS RECEIVED

BUSINESS ORGANIZATION By Alfred F. Conard Brooklyn: The Foundation Press, Inc., 1950. Pp. vii, 661. $7.00.

CASES ON FEDERAL COURTS By Charles T. McCormick and James H. Chadburn Brooklyn: The Foundation Press, Inc., 1950. Pp. 921. $8.00.

CASES AND MATERIALS ON WORLD LAW By Louis B. Sohn Brooklyn: The Foundation Press, Inc., 1950. Pp. 1363. $8.00.

FEDERAL ESTATE AND GIFT TAXATION: CASES AND MATERIALS By William C. Warren and Stanley S. Surrey Brooklyn: The Foundation Press, Inc.,1950. Pp. vii, 518. $7.00.

HATCH ACT DECISIONS By James W. Irwin Washington. United States Government Printing Office, 1949. Pp. v, 304. …

Book Reviews, William N. Ethridge, Jr. (Reviewer), M. G. Dakin (Reviewer), A. B. Neil (Reviewer), C. M. Updegraff (Reviewer)

Vanderbilt Law Review

Book Reviews

The Roosevelt Court: A Study in Judicial Politics and Values By C.Herman Pritchett New York: The Macmillan Company, 1948, Pp. 314,$5.00

Lions Under the Throne By Charles P. Curtis, Jr. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin Company, 1947. Pp. 361. $3.50

The Nine Young Men By Wesley McCune New York: Harper & Bros.,1947. Pp. 293. $3.50

reviewer: William N. Ethridge, Jr.

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A Declaration of Legal Faith By Wiley Rutledge Lawrence, Kansas:University of Kansas Press, 1947. Pp. 82. $2.00

reviewer: M. G. Dakin

The Papers of Walter Clark: 1857-1901, Vol. 1 Edited by Aubrey Lee Brooks and Hugh T. Leffler Chapel …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CONFLICT OF LAWS--FULL FAITH AND CREDIT--DOMESTIC SEPARATE MAINTENANCE DECREE SURVIVES FOREIGN DIVORCE

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--DUE PROCESS--USE OF PEREMPTORY'CHALLENGE TO EXCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF ACCUSED'S RACE FROM TRIAL JURY

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--FREEDOM OF SPEECH--USE OF AMPLIFICATION DEVICE IN PUBLIC PARK HELD WITHIN CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--SEARCHES AND SEIZURES--EVIDENCE OBTAINED WITHOUT SEARCH WARRANT INADMISSIBLE THOUGH SEIZED IN PROCESS OF LAWFUL ARREST

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS--JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT AS STATE ACTION

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CONTRACTS--BROKER'S COMMISSIONS--RIGHT TO RECOVER UNDERDOCTRINE OF SUBSTITUTED PERFORMANCE

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CONTRACTS--COMMERCIAL FRUSTRATION--REQUIREMENT THAT A BASIC PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT BE FRUSTRATED

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CRIMINAL LAW--CUMULATIVE SENTENCES--EFFECT OF STATE PAROLE UPON COMMENCEMENT OF …