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Gurtler v. Union Parts Manufacturing Co.

132 N.E.2d 889, 1 N.Y.2d 5, 150 N.Y.S.2d 4, 1956 N.Y. LEXIS 999
CourtNew York Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 15, 1956
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 132 N.E.2d 889 (Gurtler v. Union Parts Manufacturing Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gurtler v. Union Parts Manufacturing Co., 132 N.E.2d 889, 1 N.Y.2d 5, 150 N.Y.S.2d 4, 1956 N.Y. LEXIS 999 (N.Y. 1956).

Opinion

Per Curiam.

It has long been settled that what is defama-

tory— that is, actionable without allegation or proof of special damage—-when written may be held not actionable per se if spoken. (See Hartmann v. Winchell, 296 N. Y. 296, 298; Kleeberg v. Sipser, 265 N. Y, 87, 91; Moore v. Francis, 121 N. Y. 199, 204; Kinney v. Nash, 3 N. Y. 177, 178; Oakley v. Farrington, 1 Johns. Cas. 129, 130.) Having applicable principles in mind, it is clear that the words attributed to defendant corporation’s president are not slanderous per se. Consequently, absent a sufficient allegation of special damage, the complaint fails to state a cause of action and was properly dismissed by the Appellate Division (285 App. Div. 643). However, in view of plaintiff’s assertion, made through counsel, that he has suffered special damages, he should be permitted to amend his complaint to include an allegation to that effect. (Civ. Prac. Act, § 584; see. Didier v. Macfadden Publications, 299 N. Y. 49, 53; Al Raschid v. News Syndicate Co., 265 N. Y. 1, 5.)

The judgment of the Appellate Division should be affirmed, with leave to plaintiff to serve an amended complaint within twenty days.

Conway, Ch. J., Desmond, Fuld, Froessel, Van Voorhis and Burke, JJ., concur; Dye, J., taking no part.

Judgment affirmed, etc.

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Bluebook (online)
132 N.E.2d 889, 1 N.Y.2d 5, 150 N.Y.S.2d 4, 1956 N.Y. LEXIS 999, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gurtler-v-union-parts-manufacturing-co-ny-1956.