Villers v. Monsley
King’s Bench
95 Eng. Rep. 886 (1769)
- Written by Mary Phelan D'Isa, JD
Facts
Monsley (defendant) published a poem that suggested that Villers (plaintiff) smelled bad and had a disease (the itch). Villers sued Monsley for libel. There was a verdict for Villers, and he was awarded damages. Monsley appealed and argued that the itch, unlike leprosy, is not libelous because it implies no offense in the person having it.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Lord Wilmot, C.J.)
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