Newspapers Incorporated v. Stanley B. Matthews

Summary

The Texas Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's instructed verdict, holding that Texas law does not recognize a cause of action for libel of a business separate from the owner and that the newspaper articles did not identify Stanley B. Matthews, so no libel claim could proceed. Justice Walker, joined by Justice Norvell, dissented, arguing that the business name implicates the owner and that identification can be inferred.