Defamation — Libelous matter contained in pleadings — Damnum absque injuria.
In an action of trespass for libel, the plaintiff alleged that the defendant published false, scandalous and defamatory words in an affidavit of defense in a former suit. The plaintiff had instituted the former suit against the defendant to recover wages earned as its employee and alleged in her statement of claim that she "performed all things required of her to be done." The defendant denied liability for the wages and averred in its affidavit of defense that the plaintiff had not performed all things required, that she was continuously careless and that the work she did perform was not done in a skillful and workmanlike manner.
In such case, a judgment for the defendant will be affirmed.
When alleged libelous matter in pleadings is relevant and pertinent, there is no liability for uttering it. Justice can be administered only when parties are permitted to plead freely in the courts and to aver whatever ought to be known without fear of consequences. Wrong may at times be done to a defamed party but it is damnum absque injuria. The inconvenience of the individual must yield to a rule for the good of the general public.
Argued November 13, 1929.
OPINION BY TREXLER, J., January 29, 1930:
The plaintiff, Helen R. Yearsley, brought this action of trespass against the defendants, alleging in her statement that they published certain false scandalous defamatory words concerning the plaintiff in an affidavit of defense filed by them in a suit theretofore brought by the plaintiff against them to recover forty dollars due her as wages earned as their employee. The words which plaintiff states are libelous are as follows: "In the course of business, defendant required plaintiff to design certain lamp shades which plaintiff refused to do all of which shades required to be designed by defendant were in the scope of plaintiff's employment with defendant and within the terms of said oral contract; and avers that plaintiff was continually careless and that the shades that plaintiff consented to design were not done in a skillful and workmanlike manner."
The appellant's argument is largely directed to the general subject of libel and what constitutes privileged communication, and the necessity of proving probable cause. We need not go so far afield. The only question here is: When alleged libelous matter is contained in pleadings, is there any liability for uttering it? The answer is found in Kemper v. Fort, 219 Pa. 85. Justice BROWN, in that case, cites a number of authorities and sums up in the following words: "When alleged libelous matter in pleadings is relevant and pertinent, there is no liability for uttering it. Public policy requires this, even if at times the privilege of immunity for false and malicious averments in pleadings is abused. Justice can be administered only when parties are permitted to plead freely in the courts and to aver whatever ought to be known without fear of consequences, if a material and pertinent averment should not be sustained. Wrong may at times be done to a defamed party, but it is damnum absque injuria. The inconvenience of the individual must yield to a rule for the good of the general public."
The plaintiff's claim in the suit in which the alleged libelous matter was set out was for a sum due for wages. The plaintiff, in her statement, stated that she "performed all things required of her to be done." When the defendant countered by stating that she had not performed all things required and that the work was not done in a skillful and workmanlike manner, his assertion was pertinent to the issue. "Where the question of the relevancy and pertinency of matters alleged in pleadings is to be inquired into, all doubts should be resolved in favor of relevancy and pertinency": Kemper v. Fort, supra.
The judgment is affirmed.