Charles C. Ward and Mary B. Ward, Plaintiffs-Respondents v. Johanan Zelikovsky, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and remanded, holding that the defendant's anti‑Semitic statements are not slander per se and therefore require proof of special damages, which the plaintiffs failed to produce; consequently the punitive‑damage awards were improper. Justice STEIN, in a concurring opinion, agreed with the holding on slander per se but argued the plaintiffs did establish a cause of action for defamation.