Hunckel v. Voneiff , 69 Md. 179 ( 1888 )

Miller, J.,

delivered the-opinion of the Court.

This is an action of libel or slander against a witness in an equity cause, whose testimony was written down by the examiner, returned to the Court and read at the hearing before the Judge. The alleged libelous, or slanderous statements are contained in the testimony thus taken. There was a demurrer to each of the two counts in the declaration, which the Court sustained and, thereupon, gave judgment for the defendants. From that judgment this appeal is taken.

In the able arguments of counsel the whole field of the law on the question of privilege has been explored, and wx* believe all the decisions, as well as the opinions and dicta of eminent Judges have been cited and pressed upon our attention. It would be a tedious task to review them in detail, and a hopeless one to attempt to reconcile them. The question is. a new one in this State. No precedent for such an action has been found in our reports or judicial records, and we believe this is the first attempt to bring one since a Court of justice was first established in the Colony of Maryland, a period of more than two centuries. This fact while it may not be conclusive against the right to maintain the action, certainly leaves us free to follow and adopt those authorities which state the law in accordance with what, in our judgment, the administration of justice and a sound public policy demand.

The case now before us is not that of an advocateXmt of a iwitness, and in our opinion i't is of the greatest importance to the administration of justice that witnesses should go upon the stand with their minds absolutely free from apprehension that they may subject themselves to an action of slander for what they may say while giving their testimony. Mr. Townshend in his book on Slander and, Libel, wcill says: “The due administration of justice requires that a witness should speak according to his belief, the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, without regard to the consequences ; and he should be encouraged to do this by the consciousness that, except for any wilfully false statement, which is perjury, no matter that his testimony may, in fact, be untrue, or that loss.to another ensues by reason of his testimony, no action for slander can be maintained against him. It is not simply a matter between individuals; it concerns the administration of justice. The witness speaks in the hearing and under the control of the Court, is compelled to speak, with no right to decide what is immaterial; and he should not he subject to the possibility of an action for his words.” Townshend on Slander and Libel, see. 223.

But there is more substantial authority for the absolute character of the privilege. In the standard work of Starkie on Slander it is laid down as the result of the English decisions that “witnesses, like jurors appear in Court in obedience to the authority of the law, and therefore may be considered, as well as jurors, to be acting in the discharge of a public duty; and though convenience requires that they should be liable to a prosecution for perjury committed in the course of their evidence, or for conspiracy in case of a combination of two or more to give false evidence, they are not responsible in a civil action for any reflections throion out in delivering their testimony.” 1 Starkie on Slander, 242. This statement of the law has been frequently quoted with approval by the English Courts, and in some instances by Courts and text-writers in this country. Terry vs. Fellows, 21 La. Ann. Rep., 275. In support of the absolute character of the privilege a long list of English decisions, ancient and modern, has been cited. Without referring to the earlier ones we mention some of those decided in more recent times, which have special reference to the case of parties and witnesses. Revis vs. Smith, 86 Eng. C. L. Rep., 126; Henderson vs. Broomhead, 4 H. & N., 568; Kennedy vs. Hilliard, 10 Irish C. L. Rep., 195; Dawkins vs. Rokeby, 4 Fost. & Fin., 806; Dawkins vs. Rokeby, Law Rep., 8 Queen’s Bench, 255, and same case on appeal in the House of Lords, Law Rep. 7 H. L., 744.

In these cases Wtlles, .Coleridge, C. J., Cockburn, C. J., Blackburn, Kelly, C. B., Creswell, Lord Cairns, and other eminent jurists have again and again'expressed the opinion that the privilege of a witness should be absolute, have pointed out the great benefit of such privilege to the administration of justice, and have deprecated in strong terms the evil consequences they thought would ensue if witnesses were placed under any intimidation, or the fear of being involved in litigation by reason oí what they might say when under examination. In Dawkins vs. Rokeby, the Judges were called in and gave unanimously an answer to the question put to them by the House of Lords, in which they say: “A long series of decisions has settled that no action will lie against a witness for what he says or writes in giving evidence before a Court of justice. This does not proceed on the ground that the occasion rebuts the prima/«ciepresumption that words disparaging to another are maliciously spoken or written. If that were all, evidence of express malice would remove this ground. But the principle we apprehend is, that public policy requires that witnesses should give their testimony free from any fear of being harassed by an action on an allegation, whether true or false, that they acted from malice. The authorities as regards witnesses in the ordinary Courts of justice are numerous and uniform.” . After this decision the case of Seaman vs. Netherclift arose, which was tried before Coleridge, C. J., at nisi prius and afterwards decided by him and Brett, J., in Law Rep., 1 C. P. Div., 540, and subsequently by the Court of Appeal in Law Rep., 2 C. P. Div., 53. The Judges who heard the case on appeal were Cockbuejst, C. J., Bramwell, J. A., and Ambhlett, J. A., and they disposed of it at once. Cockburn, C. J., said: “If there is any thing as to which the au thority is overwhelming it is that a witness is privileged to the extent of what he says in course of his examination. Heither is that privilege affected by the relevancy or irrelevancy of what he says; for then he would be obliged to judge of what is relevant or irrelevant, and questions might be, and are, constantly asked which are not strictly relevant to the issue. But that, beyond all question, this unqualified privilege extends to a witness is established by a long series of cases, the last of which is Dawkins vs. Lord Rokeby, after which contend to the contrary is hopeless”. It was there expressly decided that the evidence of a witness with reference to the inquiry” (the inquiry referred to being a military Court of inquiry instituted to investigate the conduct of an officer) “is privileged notwithstanding it may be malicious; and to ask us to decide otherwise is to ask what is beyond our power. But I agree that if in this case beyond being spoken maliciously the words had not been spoken in, the character of a witness or not while he was giving evidence in the case, the result might have been different.. Eor I am very far from desiring tp be considered as laying down as law that what a witness states altogether out of the character and sphere of a witness, or what he may say dehors the matter in hand, is necessarily protected. I quite agree that what he says before he enters or after he has left the witness-box is not privileged, which was the question in the case (Trotman vs. Dunn, 4 Camp., 211,) before Lord Ellenborough. Or if a man when in the witness-box were to take advantage of his position to utter something having no reference to the cause or matter of inquiry in order to assail the character of another, as if he were asked: Were you at York on a certain day '? and he were to answer: Yes, and A. B. picked my pocket there; it certainly might well be said in such a.case that the statement was altogether dehors the character of witness, and not within the privilege.” So in speaking upon the samé subject Bramwell, J. A., says: “Suppose while the witness is in the box, a man were to come in at the door, and the witness were to exclaim, 'that man picked my pocket.’ I can hardly think that would be privileged. I can scarcely think a witness would be protected for anything he may say in the witness-box wantonly and without reference to the inquiry. 1 do not say he would not be protected. It might be' held that it was better that everything a witness said should be protected than that witnesses should be under the impression that what they said in the witness-box might subject them to an action. I certainly should pause before I affirmed so extreme a proposition, but without affirming that, I think the words 'having -reference to the inquiry’ ought to have a very wide and comprehensive application, and ought not to be limited to statements for which, if not true, a witness might be indicted for perjury, or the exclusion of which by the Judge would give ground for a new trial; but ought to extendió that which a witness might naturally and reasonably say when giving evidence with reference to the inquiry as to which he had been called as a witness.” Amphtjgtt, J. A., on the same subject says: “How it would have been if this statement had been volunteered by the defendant, without it being necessary or in any way arising from questions he had been asked, we need not express any opinion. In such a case it may be that the words would not have been spoken in his office of a witness. I must by no means be taken as’expressing an opinion that in such a case the witness would not be protected. I can see many reasons why a witness should be absolutely protected for anything he said in the witness-box. If he did voluntarily make a scandalous attack while giving evidence he would be guilty of a gross contempt of Court, and might be committed to prison by the presiding Judge; or if he were before an inferior tribunal, and he persevered in his scandalous statements, he might be liable to an indictment for obstructing the course of justice.” Much also was said as to the privilege of a witness in the still more recent case of Munster vs. Lamb, in the Court of Appeal (Law Rep., 11 Q. B. Div., 588,) and we feel ourselves at liberty to adopt, if we choose, what was said in that case on that subject. The Judges, (Brett and Fry) there again affirmed the absolute character of this privilege in the broadest terms. “Why should," says Fry, L. J., “a witness be able to avail himself of his position in the box and to make without fear of civil consequences a false statement, which in many cases is perjured, and which Is malicious and affects the character of another? The rule of law exists, not because the conduct of those persons ought not of itself to be actionable, but because if their conduct was actionable, actions would be brought against Judges and witnesses in cases in which they had not spoken with malice, in which they had not spoken with falsehood. It is not a desire to prevent actions from being brought in cases where they ought to be maintained that has led to the adoption of the present rule of law; but it is the fear that if the rule were otherwise numerous actions would be brought against persons who were merely discharging their duty. It must always be borne in mind that it is nót intended to protect malicious and untruthful persons, but that it is intended to protect persons acting bona ficle, who, under a different rule, would be liable, not perhaps to verdicts and judgments against them, but to the vexation of defending actions." And he refers to the fact that Courts of justice have control over all proceedings before them, and have ample powers to check improper conduct on the part of witnesses as well as of solicitors and counsel.

Such are the English decisions. As to authority on the same subject in this country, we have already- referred to what has been said by Mr. Townshend in his book on Slander and Libel, and we have the authority of -fudge Cooley to the effect, that: “ Among the cases which are so absolutely privileged on reasons of public policy, that no inquiry into motives is permitted in an action for slander or libel, is that of a witness giving evidence in the course of judicial proceedings. It is familiar law that no action will lie against him at the suit of a party aggrieved by his false testimony, even though malice be charged;.” and for this a number of authorities from different States are cited. Cooley on Const. Lim., 545. Again, Mr. Waite seems to adopt the English cases as laying down the true rule, 7 Waite’s Actions and Defences, 438. A different view as to the extent of the privilege has been taken by the Courts of many of the States, and it may be conceded that the weight of authority in this country is in favor of a much greater restriction upon the privilege than is sanctioned by the English decisions. But we are not controlled by any decision of our own Courts, and are at liberty to settle the law for this State according to our best judgment. After a most careful consideration of the subject, we are convinced that the privilege of a witness should be as absolute as it has been decided to be by the English authorities we have cited, and we accordingly adopt the law on this subject as they have laid it down.

It remains to apply this law to the case before us. The declaration does not state definitely what the controversy or matter of inquiry in the equity case of Manning vs. Voneiff actually was. Enough is stated, however, to warrant the inference that the female plaintiff was a party to that suit, or was preferring a claim in some capacity to the estate, or some part of it, of a Mr. Plitt, deceased, and that the witness, or her husband, was resisting that claim. The defendant was examined as a witness in that case, and so far as her testimony is set out in the declaration, it appears she was first asked if she remembered quite distinctly the day on which her husband told her he was copying certain deeds at Mr. Plitt’s request? To this she replied that she saw her husband copying some papers; that he had afile of papers copying them, and she being inquisitive, asked him what he was writing, and he said he was copying some deeds Mr. Plitt asked him to copy. She was then asked, was that the same day on which the magistrate came to see Mr. Plitt ? To this she replied, “ No. I don’t think so.” She was then asked, “Well, how many days about intervened?” To this she replied, “Not knowing that a mistress or woman of Mr. Plitt’s would step in to claim the lawful wife’s property, I did not keep an account of the date that way; if I would have, I would have noticed the date and all those little particular incidences to save Mrs. Plitt from much heartache, and trouble, and cause of her death.” This is the libel or slander complained. of. Now, it is true she could have answered the question by simply saying she “did not remember.” It is also true that the imputation thus cast upon the plaintiff was grossly slanderous. She may have made it from malice, knowing at the same time that it was false, and from the averments of the declaration which the demurrer admits we must so take it. Still it was the excuse she chose to give as to not remembering the date about which she had been pressed by this and two previous questions. It is, as we consider it, nothing more than a reflection cast upon a party to the controversy in answer to a question which could have been answered without making such reflection. The answer might have been expunged from the record, or the witness punished for making it, but it is quite impossible to say that she did not make it in her character as witness, or that it is at all like the examples put by the Judges in Sea,man vs. Netherdift as being entirely outside of tlie privilege.

(Decided 13th June, 1888.)

Judgment, affirmed.

Rojbinsox and Bryax, J., dissented.

Robtnson, J.

The absolute and unqualified privilege of a witness, as laid down in this ease, is, in my opinion, a departure from the well settled law on the subject. I agree that a witness is absolutely protected as everything said by him, having relation or reference to the subject-matter of inquiry before the Court. But he takes advantage of his position as a witness to assail wantonly the character of another, and to utter maliciously what he knows to be false in regard to a matter that has no relation or reference to the matter of inquiry, he is, in my opinion, both on principle and authority, liable in an action of slander. I must, therefore, enter my dissent to the judgment in this case.

(Filed 13th June, 1888.)

A motion for a re-argument of the foregoing case before a Full Bench, was filed on the 1st of August, 1888, in behalf of the appellants. The Court overruled th.e motion, and at the same time delivered the following opinion:

Miller, J.

A motion for a re-argument has been made in this case, and counsel have asked that it be had before a Full Court. The case itself, with two others bearing upon the same general subject, was most elaborately argued in the first instance, was most carefully considered, and the opinion heretofore filed expresses the deliberate judgment of four of the six Judges who heard it. The Constitution provides that four of the Judges of the Court of Appeals shall constitute a quorum, that no case shall he decided without the concurrence of at least three, and that the Judge who heard the case helow shall not participate in the decision. Cons., Art. 4, sec. 15. It will he thus seen that it is seldom practicable or possible to have a full Court for the hearing of a case; hut here six Judges sat at the hearing, the case was disposed of by a quorum of four, and there is not the least probability that a different conclusion or result will he reached if the case he re-argued before a full bench of eight. The motion is, therefore, overruled, and would need no further notice hut for the fact that in their reasons in support of it counsel have said, the decision in ^*Maulsby vs. Reifsnider rendered on the same day is utterly inconsistent with it, and the Court is thus placed in the position of having given two irreconcilable judgments upon the same subject on the same day, because “the most subtle and ingenious mind that was ever trained in the law can suggest no sound reason why an attorney should possess a more qualified privilege than a witness." This Court always réceives with deference and respect the opinions as well as the arguments, of eminent and learned lawyers of our Maryland Bar, hut it is seldom we are favored with one couched in such peremptory and unqualified language as this. One reading it ufould suppose that it was certain that the privileges of advocates and witnesses had always been regarded as standing upon precisely.the same ground, that no- distinction ever had been or could he drawn between them, and that no Judge had ever ventured to express or suggest a doubt upon the subject. But this is a mistake.

Kennedy vs. Hilliard, 10 Irish C. L., 195, was a case where an unsuccessful attempt was made to sustain an action against a party for a libel contained in an affidavit made by him as a witness, and where the Court had expunged the irrelevant statement from the affidavit as prolix, impertinent and scandalous. It was decided by the Irish Court of Exchequer in 1859. The opinions delivered by the several Judges seem to be quite as able and well reasoned as any to be found in the English decisions on the same subject, and have, in fact, been specially commended by English Judges. Greeue, B., in his opinion, after stating the contention of counsel that the qualification of pertinency or relevancy which is attached to the priAllege in case of Avords spoken by an advocate in behalf of his client, applies also to words spoken or written in the course of a judicial inquiry by a party or a Avitness, says: “Hoav assuming the inquiry as to relevancy to be open and material, in the case of language used by a counsel, as in Brooke vs. Montague and Hodgson vs. Scarlett, I cannot find any satisfactory authority for the'position that it is so in the case of a party to a proceeding, or a witness. Considering the foundation of the rule, which is, that public policy requires that a man shall not be deterred by the fear of an action from instituting a legal proceeding, or giving lull and free testimony for the adAuincement of justice, I do not see hoAv the protection intended to be afforded to such a person can have its full and effectual operation, if he is, at his peri], to see the relevancy and pertinence of his statement. A counsel being legis gjeritics, and retained for a client, and being at liberty to exercise his oavii discretion, may possibly be differently circumstanced. It may not be unreasonable to expect from him a greater degree of circumspection.” So again in Seaman vs. Netherclift, decided in 1876, Chief Justice Coleridge referred to the same subject and said: “It is not necessary to discuss the case of counsel; but it may be observed that their privilege is at least not greater than that of parties, and that it may be less; for, it has never yet been decided that they would not be subject to an action for words spoken even during the conduct of a case, if the words were irrelevant, mala fide and spoken with express malice.”

In fact, a careful study of the English cases will show, I think, that while the Courts have with great unanimity held that the privilege should be' absolute and unqualified in respect to witnesses and parties, there have been many expressions of opinion by- individual Judges, and even some decisions by the Courts, to the effect that there should be a qualification to the privilege of advocates. In regard to them the controversy all along seems to have been whether their privilege should be of the same charcter as that conceded, to witnesses and parties, and it was not settled until the decision of the Court of Appeal in Munster vs. Lamb, decided as recently as 1883, even if that case has settled it.

The great importance to the administration of justice that witnesses should testify with minds absolutely free from the apprehension of being annoyed by civil actions for any thing they may say as witnesses, has already been pointed out. They are commonly untrained in legal learning, and often timid and uneducated. They are brought into' Court by the mandate of the law, ánd compelled to testify, usually for the benefit of others. On the other hand lawyers practice their profession voluntarily and for their .own emolument. By their professional training they are taught, and it is their business to know, what is pertinent or relevant to the trial of a case. They are educated and intelligent men, and their position is a most honorable and important one. Their legitimate privileges are very great, and it seems to me, with great deference to the differing opinions of others, not unreasonable that they should he held civilly responsible to parties injured by an abuse of them. Ivor does there seem to he the same strong ground of public policy for protection in their case. At all events it was perfectly competent for this Court, having the questions before them for the first hue in these cases, to follow and adopt the current of the American decisions in regard to the privilege of the advocate, and to follow and adopt the rule of the English Courts as regards the privilege of the witness. This is what has been done and it does not seem to me that the privileges of the two are so tied together either by reason or authority as to make these decisions inconsistent and irreconcilable.

Motion overruled.

(Decided 17th January, 1889.)

* Ante page 143.