Cussler v. Wilson's Leading Jewelers, Inc. 249 A.D. 712

Judgment and order reversed on the law, with costs, and complaint dismissed, with costs. Memorandum: In an action brought to recover damages squarely based upon slander of plaintiff by defendant in his profession as a school teacher plaintiff has recovered a judgment for $700, $200 for actual damage and $500 for punitive damages. The jury specifically reported that they did not take into consideration plaintiff’s having lost his position as teacher in the East Syracuse High School. No special damages were claimed or proved. Slander per se cannot be found from the evidence presented. Nothing appears indicating anything more than an effort by defendant to collect a sum of money claimed to be due it from plaintiff — by words and acts in nowise defamatory. Defendant may have been unreasonably persistent in its efforts to make a collection. Plaintiff may have been annoyed but he was not slandered, no special damage having been proved. All concur. (The judgment awards plaintiff damages for slander. The order denies a motion for a new trial on the minutes.) Present — Sears, P. J., Taylor, Thompson, Crosby and Lewis, JJ.