SOLICITOR’S LIBEL ACTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1932, Page 5

SOLICITOR’S LIBEL ACTION

PRESS HEADINGS OBJECTED TO. [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, February 13. An action for libel by John Joseph McGrath, solicitor, of Wellington, against the Wellington Publishing Company, Ltd., claiming £lOOO damages, with costs, arising out of the report of proceedings in a licensing case, published in the “Dominion” newspaper, is being heard in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, presiding. Plaintiff claimed that by using the heading “improper remark,” on the report of the Magistrate’s Court* case, defendant meant that plaintiff had, in the course of practising his profession, made an improper remark; also that, by the subsidiary heading, “Solicitor rebuked,” defendant meant that plaintiff had been rebuked, by the magistrate for making an improper remark; also that defendant by using the words “The Magistrate, Mr Page, said that Mr McGrath’s remark was an jmproper one, and he should withdraw it,” meant that the Magistrate had demanded that plaintiff should withdraw the remark. Plaintiff claimed that the words were defamatory, and that plaintiff had been injured in his professional good name and reputation, and had suffered damage in consequence. The defence claimed that the headings were justified by the words used by the Magistrate, and by what took place at the proceedings, and further, that the report was a fair and accurate one of the proceedings in Court, and was published without malice towards plaintiff, and that the publication, therefore, was privileged.

Defendant said that he was still ready and willing, at plaintiff’s request, to publish a reasonable statement, by way of explanation of the words complained of. • The case is proceeding.