Man Called A ‘Bouncer’: Libel Claim For £1500

Press, Volume C, Issue 29503, 3 May 1961, Page 16

Man Called A ‘Bouncer’: Libel Claim For £1500

(New Zealand Press Association)

INVERCARGILL, May 2. A report in the "Southland Times” last year gave the impression that Douglas Leonard Scott’s sole occupation was that of a “bouncer” at a local dance, said his counsel in the Invercargill Supreme Court today when Scott, an insurance company representative, claimed £l5OO damages from the Southland Times Company, Ltd., for alleged libel.

The libel claim is based on a phrase in an item in the "Southland Times” on February 22, 1960, referring to Scott (who was not named) as “in real life, a bouncer at a local dance." Scott’s counsel, Mr C. C Fraser, claimed that the word “bouncer" conveyed the impression that Scott was of a bullying disposition, employed for the sole purpose of. manhandling disorderly persons from a dance hall, and satisfied with that job. Manager of Dance

Scott was the manager of the Invercargill R.S.A. dance from August 1958. to July. 1960

The report appeared after a carnival arranged as part of the Southland Summer Festival carnival, last year Scott played the part of “Musslo, the Strongman” in a burlesque show, called “Wirthless Circus," arranged by the R S.A.

Mr Fraser said that Scott’s name was not mentioned in the report. He was referred to only as “Musslo.”

He said that generally under law any man was entitled to his good name. If defamatory statements were published, he was entitled to claim and recover damages for libel Mr Fraser defined a defamatory statement as one which lowered a person in the estimation of right-think-ing people of a community. "The defence counsel might try to put it lightly by saying it was a humorous, lightly-written statement." said Mr Fraser. “It was no laughing matter. It is clearly derogatory and defamatory ’’ “Nothing Defamatory”

Dr. I. L. M Richardson, for the Southland Times Company, Ltd., said that the words used were not defamatory to the plaintiff Defamation was defined by him as “a false statement a man.” He said that Scott must satisfy the Court that the -'tatement lowered him in the eyes of ordinary, reasonable men A "bouncer." as referred to in the article was a person acting as an "unofficial policeman." He was there to retain order.

"There is nothing defamatory in calling Scott a bouncer” he said. If the report was considered defamatory, the expression was justified if Scott's duties at the danee involved those of a “bouncer." submitted Dr Ri'-hardson He said that the article wa= wr’tten in a jocular tone.

The case, being heard by Mr Justice Haslam and a jury of 12, will continue tomorrow.