68 Fla. 546 | Fla. | 1914
An action for libel was brought against the company for “wickedly and maliciously intending to
A civil action for libel will lie when there has been a false and unpriviliged publication by letter or otherwise, which exposes a person to distrust, hatred, contempt, ridicule or obloquy or which causes such person to be avoided, or which has a tendency to injure such person in his office, occupation, business or employment.
Where a publication is false and not privileged, and is such that its natural and proximate consequence necessarily causes injury to a person in his personal, social, official or business relations of life, wrong and injury are presumed or implied, and such publication is actionable per se. Briggs v. Brown, 55 Fla. 417, 46 South. Rep.
The malicious publication in a newspaper article containing a false statement that the plaintiff “hangs around in a disreputable part of” a named city, is not privileged, and its natural and proximate consequences are to .cause an injury to him in his personal, social or business relations in life; and such a publication is libelous .per se. making an allegation of special damages unnecessary.
The judgment is reversed.