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Baker v. Libbie

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

210 Mass. 599, 97 N.E. 109 (1912)

Facts

An auction house (defendant) acquired several personal letters written by the late Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, to Eddy’s cousin. The letters were not literary in nature; instead, they contained discussion of ordinary topics such as work and household matters. In preparation for the auction of the letters, the auction house published excerpts of the letters in advertisements and in a sale catalogue that was distributed to potential buyers. Baker (plaintiff), the executor of Eddy’s will, sued the auction house, requesting an injunction against any further publication of the letters’ excerpts and against the sale of the letters.

Rule of Law

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Issue

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Holding and Reasoning (Rugg, C.J.)

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The procedural disposition (e.g., reversed and remanded, affirmed, etc.).

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