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Jordan v. FowlerJordan v. Fowler

Court of Appeals of Georgia
Oct 13, 1920
11654
Reporters:
, ,
Before:
Smith
Smith, J.

In a petition for slander, where the petition alleged that the defendant, in the presence of ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‍third persons, used the following language, referring to the plaintiff: “William Pinkney Jordan is a low down lying yellow dog; ” “William Pinkney Jordan is a low down yellow son of a bitch;” “William ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‍Pinkney Jordan is a damn low down yellow rotten dog,” and the petition failed to allege any special damage to the plaintiff from these statements, which he alleged were false and malicious, the case ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‍came under the fourth division of section 4433 of the Civil Code (1910), which section, defining “slander,” concludes as follows: “fourth, any disparaging words productive of special damage flowing naturally therefrom. In the ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‍latter ease, the special damage is essential to support the action.” The court therefore did not err in sustaining a general demurrer and dismissing the suit. See Ford v. Lamb, 116 Ga. 655 (42 S. E. 998), and cases there ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‍cited; Jones v. Bush, 131 Ga. 421 (62 S. E. 279); Dallon v. Higgins, 34 Ga. 433; Morris v. Evans, 22 Ga. App. 11 (95 S. E. 385).

Judgment affirmed.

Jenkins, P. J., and Stephens, J., concur.

Case Details

Case Name: Jordan v. Fowler
Court Name: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Date Published: Oct 13, 1920
Citations: 25 Ga. App. 709; 104 S.E. 511; 1920 Ga. App. LEXIS 160; 11654
Docket Number: 11654
Court Abbreviation: Ga. Ct. App.
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