Billings v. Charlotte Observer
Decision Date | 28 April 1909 |
Citation | 64 S.E. 435,150 N.C. 540 |
Parties | BILLINGS v. CHARLOTTE OBSERVER et al. |
Court | North Carolina Supreme Court |
Appeal from Superior Court, Rockingham County; Ward, Judge.
Action for libel by C. M. Billings against the Charlotte Observer and others. From an order setting aside the award of damages as excessive, plaintiff appeals. Appeal dismissed.
Though the amount of punitive damages is for the jury, its finding may be set aside, if excessive.
Civil action to recover damages for alleged libel. There was allegation, with evidence, on the part of plaintiff tending to show the publication of a libelous article in defendant paper, charging plaintiff with improper conduct at Blackville, S. C., and at Waynesville, N.C. Defendant company, admitting the publication of the articles in question, averred the truth of the facts contained therein, and introduced testimony tending to support its position.
On issues submitted the jury rendered the following verdict:
Upon the coming in of the verdict, the defendants moved for a new trial on the last issue, on the ground that the amount was excessive, and order was thereupon made as follows: "The court, being of opinion that the amount of damages was excessive, hereby sets aside in its discretion said issue of damages, and awards a new trial thereon." Plaintiff moves the court to set aside second issue for errors to be assigned in the case on appeal. Overruled, and exception by plaintiff. Plaintiff appeals to the Supreme Court.
Morehead & Sapp, Justice & Broadhurst, Glidewell & Lane, and A. D. Ivie, for appellant.
Osborne, Lucas & Cocke, Burwell & Cansler, and Scott & Reid, for appellees.
We do not advert to the questions chiefly raised in the plaintiff's case on appeal, for the reason that, under numerous and well-considered decisions of this court, the appeal must be dismissed as having been prematurely taken. This position is well established, and the question has usually been raised on an issue as to damages, the very case presented here. Rogerson v. Lumber Co., 136 N.C. 266, 48 S.E. 647; Benton v. Collins, 121 N.C. 66, 28 S.E. 59; Hilliard v. Oram, 106 N.C. 467, 11 S.E. 514; Hicks v. Gooch, 93 N.C. 112.
In Benton v. Collins, supra, Faircloth, C.J., delivering the opinion, said: In Hilliard v. Oram, supra, Clark, J., said: ' And, to like effect, Smith, C.J., in Hicks v. Gooch, supra, referred to the question as follows:
The authorities with us are also to the effect that, unless some question of law or legal inference is involved, the granting or refusing a new trial, upon all or any one of the issues rests in the sound discretion of the lower court; and, where it appears that the question has been determined in the exercise of this discretion, the action of the court thereon is not subject to review. Abernethy v. Yount, 138 N.C. 337, 50 S.E. 696; Benton v. Collins, 125 N.C. 94, 34 S.E. 242, 47 L. R. A. 33; Carson v. Dellinger, 90 N.C. 226; Moore v. Edminston, 70 N.C. 481. True, as stated in Jarrett v. Trunk Co., 144 N.C. 302, 56 S.E. 937, and in Benton v. Collins, 125 N.C. 94, 34 S.E. 242, 47 L....
To continue reading
Request your trial