Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1878 — An Important Decision. [ARTICLE]

An Important Decision.

A very important decision has just been rendered by the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. In the case of Benedict against Westover, fur libel, on appeal from the Waukesha Circuit, the Supreme Court held that communications from the agent of a commercial agency arc not privileged, and that an action will lie for a slander in such a communication if damage is proved, and if the defendant does not prove the truth of the libel, and that it was published from justifiable motives. Commercial agencies may inflict much damage on business men by reports touching their character and standing which have no solid foundation in fact. The Wisconsin decision will go far to correct the evil by rendering commercial agencies more cautions in their statements,