The Press: Points in Libel

Retraction. Of the Press's many defense weapons against libel suits, Retraction is only one. Rarely offered in court as a complete defense, it often serves to reduce damages, both compensatory and punitive.* Last week the appellate division of the New York Supreme Court took from Retraction much of its potency, by ruling that it could not be accepted in mitigation of compensatory damages. In so ruling the court upheld the appeal of William H. Kehoe from a verdict of 6¢ damages against the New York Herald Tribune.†He had sued for a compensatory...

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