Word: libeler
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...litigious reader ready to sue a newspaper for libel at the drop of an insult has become a familiar courtroom character. But this time the roles were reversed. The editor was suing one of his readers. And to add to the novelty, the editor won. Bill McGaw, owner, editor, publisher and principal reporter of the Southwesterner claimed that his monthly journal of Western lore had been damaged by the actions of Alamogordo, N. Mex., Furniture Dealer A. A. Webster Jr.. a member of the John Birch Society. And a jury agreed -to the amount...
...Report that Backfired. In state court, where he sued Webster instead of the Birch Society, the angry editor fared better. The defense tried the classic libel defense of truth. McGaw's editorial, the lawyers said, followed the Communist line, just as Webster had charged. Appearing as a star witness, Far-Right Commentator Dan Smoot agreed that the editorial was Communist lining, and the same point was made in a deposition from Martin Dies, onetime chairman of the House Un-American Activities Committee. But then the defense quoted some words of praise for the John Birch Society from a California...
...Democrat attacked the well-entrenched local political machine of Sheriff Marlin Hawkins, a close ally of Governor Orval Faubus. After accusing the machine of election fraud, Wirges was threatened, beaten up and shot at. Harassed by every possible legal weapon his enemies could dream up, Wirges lost two libel suits for a total of $275,000. A $75,000 judgment was later overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court; the $200,000 verdict has been set aside, and the case will be retried...
Calls to the committee revealed that the anonymous writer was "a reputable member of the faculty," but failed to elicit his name. It appeared to be another chapter in a familiar story; unsubstantiated charges lodged by a man freed from libel by Congressional immunity...
...Christian Research Inc. "I told my friends I would stand by the truth and sing praises to the Lord no matter what," said the defendant as she promised to appeal. If she keeps her promise, she may give the Supreme Court a chance to set some needed limits on libel by clarifying what the Times decision meant by "public official...