Ingraham v. Lyon
This text of 38 P. 892 (Ingraham v. Lyon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering California Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
Section 452 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides: “In the construction of a pleading, for the purpose of determining its effect, its allegations must be liberally construed with a view to substantial justice between the parties.” The complaint in this action is certainly very loosely drawn, but, applying to it this rule of construction, it may be held to allege in substance that defendants intended by the written publication complained of to charge and have it understood and believed “ that plaintiff was a person engaged in making accounts which he never paid or intended to pay, and was dishonest and wholly unfit and unworthy of credit”; that said publication was understood by those to whom it was made as conveying such meaning and charge against the plaintiff; and that such publication was made without cause, “ and out of pure malice.” Thus construed, the complaint states a cause of action. (Maynard v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 47 Cal. 207. See, also, Edwards v. San Jose etc. Publishing Society, 99 Cal. 435.)
Judgment reversed, with directions to overrule the demurrer to the complaint.
McFarland J., and Fitzgerald, J., concurred.
Hearing in Bank denied.
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack
38 P. 892, 105 Cal. 254, 1894 Cal. LEXIS 1145, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ingraham-v-lyon-cal-1894.