In a completely separate suit, MGM represented a plaintiff who was awarded a judgment and order of sale of the defendant’s property to satisfy a judgment for money. By mistake, the court’s judgment had a numeral of the property address listed incorrectly which resulted in the address of the neighboring property being listed instead. The incorrect address number was listed in local newspapers announcing a foreclosure sale. However, the correct name of the defendant owner was used. The neighbor of the defendant whose address was printed in the ad was outraged by the mistake and filed a suit against the original plaintiff/judgment creditor alleging that the publication of his address was libelous and defamatory. The court held that the advertisement was not defamatory and could not reasonably have been said to refer to the plaintiff. The trial court dismissed the suit for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and its decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals.
Enforcement of Judgment/Master Commissioner sale/defamation/slander/libel/court advertisement
