Fifth exception:- It is not defamation to express in good faith any
opinion whatever respecting the merits of any case civil or criminal which
has been decided by a Court or respecting the conduct of any person as a
party, witness or agent in any such case or respecting the character of such
person as far as his character appears in that conduct and no further.
Illustrations –
(a) (“A”) says – “I think (“Z’s) evidence on that trial is so contradictory
that he must be stupid or dishonest”. (“A”) is within this exception if he
says this in good faith, inasmuch as the opinion which he expresses
respects (“Z’s”) character as it appears in (“Z’s”) conduct as a witness
and no further;
(b) But if (“A”) says - :I do not believe what (“Z”) asserted at the trial,
because I know him to be a man without veracity”. (“A”) is not within
this exception, inasmuch as the opinion which he expresses of (“Z’s”)
character is an opinion not founded on (“Z’s”) conduct as a witness.
Sixth exception:- It is not defamation to express in good faith any
opinion respecting the merits of any performance which its author has
submitted to the judgment of the public or respecting the character of the
author so far as his character appears in such performance and no further.
Explanation:- a performance may be submitted to the judgment of the
public expressly or by acts on the part of the author which imply such
submission to the judgment of the public.
Illustrations –
(a) A person who publishes a book submits that book to the judgment of
the public;
(b)
A person who makes a speech in public submits that speech to the
judgment of the public;
(c)
An actor or singer who appears on a public stage is acting or
singing to the judgment of the public;
(d)
(“A”) says of the book published by (“Z”) (“Z’s”) book is foolish,
(“Z”) must be a weak man (“Z’s”) book is indecent, (“Z”) must be a man
of impure mind”. (“A”) is within this exception, if he says this in good
faith inasmuch as the opinion which he expresses of (“Z”) respects (“Z’s”)
character only so far as it appears in (“Z’s”) book and no further;
(e)
but if (“A”) says – “I am not surprised that (“Z’s”) book is foolish
and indecent for he is a weak man and a libertine”, (“A”) is not within this
exception, inasmuch as the opinion which he expresses of (“(“Z’s”)
character is an opinion not founded on (“Z’s”) book.
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