{ "id": 8527789, "name": "KELLY DONOVAN and TONYA HUNTER v. RICHARD FIUMARA", "name_abbreviation": "Donovan v. Fiumara", "decision_date": "1994-05-03", "docket_number": "No. 9218SC582", "first_page": "524", "last_page": "538", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "114 N.C. App. 524" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "321 N.C. 698", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2570744 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/321/0698-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 ALR4th 404", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "3 ALR4th 752", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 4th", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "469 U.S. 858", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 12011489, 12011522, 12011844, 12012197, 12011590, 12012294, 12011909, 12011977, 12011788, 12011630, 12012238, 12012146, 12012090 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/469/0858-01", "/us/469/0858-02", "/us/469/0858-06", "/us/469/0858-11", "/us/469/0858-03", "/us/469/0858-13", "/us/469/0858-07", "/us/469/0858-08", "/us/469/0858-05", "/us/469/0858-04", "/us/469/0858-12", "/us/469/0858-10", "/us/469/0858-09" ] }, { "cite": "327 N.C. 428", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2499511, 2494171, 2496979, 2495575 ], "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/327/0428-01", "/nc/327/0428-04", "/nc/327/0428-03", "/nc/327/0428-02" ] }, { "cite": "564 So.2d 1085", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "557 So.2d 91", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "So. 2d", "case_ids": [ 7500867 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "94", "parenthetical": "\"the modern view considering the issue, has not found statements regarding sexual preference to constitute slander per se . . . .\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/so2d/557/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "673 F.2d 122", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.2d", "case_ids": [ 1412839 ], "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "125" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/f2d/673/0122-01" ] }, { "cite": "860 S.W.2d 303", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10001217 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "311-12", "parenthetical": "both involving female plaintiffs and relying in part on state case and statutory law that allegation of a woman's unchastity constitutes a category of slander per se-, North Carolina statute creating similar category repealed in 1975" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/860/0303-01" ] }, { "cite": "237 Cal. Rptr. 359", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. Rptr.", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "192 Cal. App. 3d 191", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2214000 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-3d/192/0191-01" ] }, { "cite": "170 Cal. Rptr. 662", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. Rptr.", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "664-66" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "113 Cal. App. 3d 828", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2378603 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "833-35" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal-app-3d/113/0828-01" ] }, { "cite": "426 S.E.2d 430", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "432", "parenthetical": "blurs differentiation by speaking of plaintiff's action as one for defamation and utilizing language from cases dealing with both libel and slander" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "109 N.C. App. 271", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8525158 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "274", "parenthetical": "blurs differentiation by speaking of plaintiff's action as one for defamation and utilizing language from cases dealing with both libel and slander" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/109/0271-01" ] }, { "cite": "598 N.E.2d 207", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "209" }, { "page": "209", "parenthetical": "action based upon accusation one is a homosexual \"constitutes slander per quod and cannot be maintained unless plaintiff alleges and proves special and actual damages\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "195 S.E. 55", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1938, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "59-60" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "212 N.C. 780", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8620303 ], "year": 1938, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "785-86" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/212/0780-01" ] }, { "cite": "83 L.Ed.2d 121", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "315 S.E.2d 704", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 749", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2399937, 2403675 ], "year": 1984, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0749-01", "/nc/310/0749-02" ] }, { "cite": "312 S.E.2d 405", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "408-09" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "310 N.C. 312", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2400761 ], "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "317" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/310/0312-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 S.E.2d 97", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "105", "parenthetical": "Ervin, J., concurring" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "236 N.C. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622124 ], "year": 1952, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "13", "parenthetical": "Ervin, J., concurring" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/236/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "260 S.E.2d 611", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "614" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "298 N.C. 715", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8573981 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "719" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/298/0715-01" ] }, { "cite": "395 S.E.2d 678", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1990, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "392 S.E.2d 752", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "752-53" }, { "page": "753" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "99 N.C. App. 179", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521609 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "181-82" }, { "page": "181-82" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/99/0179-01" ] }, { "cite": "402 S.E.2d 155", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "159" }, { "page": "159" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 N.C. App. 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8522937 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "194" }, { "page": "194" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/102/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "440 S.E.2d 111", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "113-14" }, { "page": "113-14" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "113 N.C. App. 505", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523236 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "509" }, { "page": "509" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/113/0505-01" ] }, { "cite": "365 S.E.2d 621", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 7, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "624-25", "parenthetical": "emphasis added" }, { "page": "624" }, { "page": "704" }, { "page": "625" }, { "page": "624" }, { "page": "624" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "12 N.C.L. Rev. 120", "category": "journals:journal", "reporter": "N.C. L. Rev.", "year": 1934, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "121-122", "parenthetical": "statement that individual is a \"thief\" would be slander per se" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 S.E.2d 861", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "865", "parenthetical": "calling plaintiff \"dishonest\" or charging that plaintiff was untruthful not actionable per se" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 N.C. App. 76", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8548163 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "82", "parenthetical": "calling plaintiff \"dishonest\" or charging that plaintiff was untruthful not actionable per se" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/47/0076-01" ] }, { "cite": "62 U.S.L.W. 2309", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "U.S.L.W.", "weight": 3, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "2309-10" }, { "page": "2309-10" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "17 A.2d 464", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.2d", "year": 1941, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "465" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "361 N.E.2d 74", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "76" }, { "page": "76" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "271 S.E.2d 252", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "257" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "301 N.C. 348", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566259 ], "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "356" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/301/0348-01" ] }, { "cite": "243 S.E.2d 367", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "374", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "374" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "295 N.C. 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560971 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "66", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "66" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/295/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "255 N.Y.S.2d 318", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.2d", "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "319" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "22 A.D.2d 901", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "A.D.2d", "case_ids": [ 5515936 ], "year": 1964, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "902" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ad2d/22/0901-01" ] }, { "cite": "232 N.Y.S.2d 362", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.2d", "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "364" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "36 Misc.2d 227", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Misc. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1116201 ], "year": 1962, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "228" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/misc2d/36/0227-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 S.E. 678", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "year": 1917, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "679" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "175 N.C. 768", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "year": 1917, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "769" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "142 S.E.2d 691", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "692", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "264 N.C. 746", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8575136 ], "year": 1965, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "746", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/264/0746-01" ] }, { "cite": "596 S.W.2d 209", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 9931389 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "210" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/596/0209-01" ] }, { "cite": "323 S.W.2d 363", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 10163567 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1959, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "369" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/sw2d/323/0363-01" ] }, { "cite": "N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-177", "category": "laws:leg_statute", "reporter": "N.C. Gen. Stat.", "year": 1993, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "832 P.2d 1022", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "case_ids": [ 10374216 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1024, 1025", "parenthetical": "interprets certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions as \"furthering . . . trend to limit and not expand the use of per se characterizations and presumed damages in defamation cases\"" }, { "page": "1024, 1025" }, { "page": "1026", "parenthetical": "\"false statements concerning homosexuality are not slander per se even though they arise in an employment context and are directed at plaintiff's business reputation\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/p2d/832/1022-01" ] }, { "cite": "33 S.E.2d 124", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1945, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "125" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "225 N.C. 33", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8598068 ], "year": 1945, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "34" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/225/0033-01" ] }, { "cite": "338 S.E.2d 561", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "566", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "78 N.C. App. 668", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523628 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "675", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/78/0668-01" ] }, { "cite": "374 S.E.2d 590", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "323 N.C. 629", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2561393, 2561378, 2562195, 2562245 ], "year": 1988, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/323/0629-04", "/nc/323/0629-01", "/nc/323/0629-03", "/nc/323/0629-02" ] }, { "cite": "371 S.E.2d 701", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "709" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "91 N.C. App. 171", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8524967 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "182" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/91/0171-01" ] }, { "cite": "179 S.E.2d 319", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 6, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "322", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "390" }, { "page": "324" }, { "page": "388" }, { "page": "322" }, { "page": "323", "parenthetical": "accusing plaintiffs of being \"gangsters\" did not charge them with a \"specific crime for which they could be indicted and punished\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "10 N.C. App. 384", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8554037 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1971, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "387", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "388" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/10/0384-01" ] }, { "cite": "89 S.E.2d 466", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 7, "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "467-68" }, { "page": "467" }, { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "468", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" }, { "page": "467" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "242 N.C. 755", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622561 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1955, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "757" }, { "page": "756" }, { "page": "757" }, { "page": "757" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/242/0755-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 S.E.2d 236", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "237", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "238", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "238", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "5 N.C. App. 276", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8549578 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "277", "parenthetical": "citations omitted" }, { "page": "278" }, { "page": "278" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/5/0276-01" ] }, { "cite": "294 S.E.2d 210", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "parenthetical": "citations omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "306 N.C. 385", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8569668, 8569702, 8569641, 8569742, 8569722 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/306/0385-02", "/nc/306/0385-03", "/nc/306/0385-01", "/nc/306/0385-05", "/nc/306/0385-04" ] }, { "cite": "290 S.E.2d 732", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "736" }, { "page": "736", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "57 N.C. App. 13", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8521700 ], "weight": 4, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "20" }, { "page": "20" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/57/0013-01" ] }, { "cite": "291 S.E.2d 336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "338" }, { "page": "338", "parenthetical": "\"defamation includes two distinct torts, libel and slander\"" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "57 N.C. App. 249", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8523685 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1982, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "251" }, { "page": "251" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/57/0249-01" ] }, { "cite": "356 S.E.2d 378", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "381" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "86 N.C. App. 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12121342 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "4" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/86/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "351 S.E.2d 746", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "318 N.C. 694", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 4738404, 4737929, 4740404, 4738486, 4734713 ], "year": 1987, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/318/0694-03", "/nc/318/0694-02", "/nc/318/0694-05", "/nc/318/0694-01", "/nc/318/0694-04" ] }, { "cite": "349 S.E.2d 82", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "83" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "83 N.C. App. 155", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8358214 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "156" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/83/0155-01" ] }, { "cite": "354 S.E.2d 757", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "758", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "85 N.C. App. 338", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 12169904 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "340", "parenthetical": "citation omitted" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/85/0338-01" ] }, { "cite": "313 S.E.2d 25", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "26" }, { "page": "26-27" }, { "page": "26-27" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "67 N.C. App. 354", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C. App.", "case_ids": [ 8526416 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1984, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "356" }, { "page": "356" }, { "page": "356" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc-app/67/0354-01" ] }, { "cite": "321 N.C. 698", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2570744 ], "weight": 5, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "703" }, { "page": "703" }, { "page": "703" }, { "page": "703" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/321/0698-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1440, "char_count": 33742, "ocr_confidence": 0.744, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.1714010145927465e-07, "percentile": 0.771259830206317 }, "sha256": "ff192a801b3fdd8875bd86757656c5deea1a576fbe0485008f847ae2f1c51f2d", "simhash": "1:030ded200c37244e", "word_count": 5495 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:01:59.295429+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judges EAGLES and MARTIN concur." ], "parties": [ "KELLY DONOVAN and TONYA HUNTER v. RICHARD FIUMARA" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JOHN, Judge\nOn 21 December 1990, plaintiffs filed suit against defendant for slander, setting out in their complaint the following pertinent allegations:\n3. In January, 1990, and again in June, 1990, defendant stated to other persons that plaintiffs are gay and bisexual.\n4. Defendant\u2019s statements concerning plaintiffs were and are false.\n5. Defendant\u2019s statements concerning plaintiffs amount to slander.\n6. Proximately, solely, and directly as a result of defendant\u2019s statements concerning plaintiffs, plaintiffs have suffered injury to their reputation, humiliation, embarrassment, anxiety, and other emotional distress. Plaintiffs\u2019 actual damages, incurred and to be incurred, are in an amount in excess of $10,000.00 as to each of the plaintiffs.\nIn answer thereto, defendant moved to dismiss the complaint pursuant to N.C.R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (1990) for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. After a hearing, the court allowed defendant\u2019s motion by judgment entered 12 May 1992. Plaintiffs appeal, contending the allegations of the complaint set forth a cause of action for slander. We disagree and affirm the action of the trial court.\nA motion to dismiss made pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) tests the legal sufficiency of the pleading against which it is directed. Hendrix v. Hendrix, 67 N.C. App. 354, 356, 313 S.E.2d 25, 26 (1984). In ruling upon such a motion, the trial court is to construe the pleading liberally, Dixon v. Stuart, 85 N.C. App. 338, 340, 354 S.E.2d 757, 758 (1987) (citation omitted), and in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, Ford v. Peaches Entertainment Corp., 83 N.C. App. 155, 156, 349 S.E.2d 82, 83 (1986), disc. review denied, 318 N.C. 694, 351 S.E.2d 746 (1987), taking as true and admitted all well-pleaded factual allegations contained within the complaint. Johnson v. Bollinger, 86 N.C. App. 1, 4, 356 S.E.2d 378, 381 (1987). A Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss should be granted only when the factual allegations, so considered, fail as a matter of law to state the substantive elements of some legally recognized claim. See, e.g., Hendrix, 67 N.C. App. at 356, 313 S.E.2d at 26-27.\nBased upon plaintiffs\u2019 contention, the sole question before us is whether the allegations of the complaint, liberally construed and all taken as true (including the assertion defendant made the statements in question as well as the claim the comments were false), set out a cause of action for slander.\nSlander has been defined by this Court as \u201coral defamation,\u201d see, e.g., Tallent v. Blake, 57 N.C. App. 249, 251, 291 S.E.2d 336, 338 (1982), or \u201cthe speaking [as opposed to the writing] of base or defamatory words which tend to prejudice another in his reputation, office, trade, business, or means of livelihood.\u201d Morrow v. Kings Department Stores, 57 N.C. App. 13, 20, 290 S.E.2d 732, 736 (emphasis added) (citation omitted), disc. review denied, 306 N.C. 385, 294 S.E.2d 210 (1982). To be actionable, any such defamatory statement must be false, and must be communicated (published) to some person or persons other than the individual defamed. Id. (citations omitted).\nOur courts have long recognized two actionable classes of oral defamation: slander per se and slander per quod:\nThat is, the false remarks in themselves (per se) may form the basis of an action for damages, in which case both malice and damage are, as a matter of law, presumed; or the false utterance may be such as to sustain an action only when causing some special damage (per quod), in which case both the malice and the special damage must be alleged and proved.\nBeane v. Weiman Co., Inc., 5 N.C. App. 276, 277, 168 S.E.2d 236, 237 (1969) (citations omitted).\nSlander per quod involves a spoken statement of which the harmful character does not appear on its face as a matter of general acceptance, but rather becomes clear \u201conly in consequence of extrinsic, explanatory facts showing its injurious effect . . . .\u201d Badame v. Lampke, 242 N.C. 755, 757, 89 S.E.2d 466, 467-68 (1955). In such cases, \u201cthe injurious character of the words and some special damage must be pleaded and proved.\u201d Beane, 5 N.C. App. at 278, 168 S.E.2d at 238 (citations omitted). In the context of an action for defamation, special damage means \u201cpecuniary loss,\u201d Williams v. Freight Lines and Willard v. Freight Lines, 10 N.C. App. 384, 387, 179 S.E.2d 319, 322 (1971) (citations omitted); \u201cemotional distress and mental suffering are not alone sufficient . . . .\u201d Id. at 390, 179 S.E.2d at 324. In the case sub judice, plaintiffs\u2019 complaint contains no assertion of special damages, and in their appellate brief they concede the absence of such allegation. Therefore, it is uncontroverted plaintiffs failed to state a claim for slander per quod.\nHowever, plaintiffs argue before us that the trial court misapprehended the legal theory under which they were proceeding, and that the allegations of the complaint constitute a claim for relief based upon slander per se.\nFor decades, judicial formulations of the categories of utterances considered slander per se have varied not at all in substance. This Court has consistently stated that only three types of defamatory statements, if published to a person other than the one defamed, will support an action for slander per se: \u201cthose which [1] charge plaintiff with a crime or offense involving moral turpitude, [2] impeach his trade or profession, or [8] impute to him a loathsome disease.\" Id. at 388, 179 S.E.2d at 322. See also U v. Duke University, 91 N.C. App. 171, 182, 371 S.E.2d 701, 709 (citation omitted), disc. review denied, 323 N.C. 629, 374 S.E.2d 590 (1988); Morris v. Bruney, 78 N.C. App. 668, 675, 338 S.E.2d 561, 566 (1986) (citations omitted).\nWhen language falling within one of these categories is spoken, the \u201claw raises a prima facie presumption of malice and a conclusive presumption of legal injury and damage . . . Badame, 242 N.C. at 756, 89 S.E.2d at 467. Indeed, \u201cthe mode of proving the resultant damage\u201d is the primary difference between slander actionable per se and per quod. Id. \u201cAs to words actionable per se, the law treats their injurious character as a fact of common acceptance, and consequently the courts take judicial notice of it.\u201d Id. Therefore, a plaintiff may recover under a theory of slander per se without specifically pleading or proving special damages. Id. (citations omitted).\nAlthough the three per se categories mentioned above have developed as exceptions to the original rule that slander was not actionable without allegation and proof of special damages, see W. Page Keeton et al., Prosser and Keeton on the Law of Torts \u00a7 112, at 788-92 (5th ed. 1984), \u201c[t]he policy of the law has much restricted the range of defamatory utterances which are actionable per se.\u201d Penner v. Elliott, 225 N.C. 33, 34, 33 S.E.2d 124, 125 (1945). Consequently courts have consistently refrained from expanding the number or the scope of categories of spoken defamatory words which are actionable without allegation and proof of damages. See Hayes v. Smith, 832 P.2d 1022, 1024, 1025 (Colo. Ct. App. 1991) (interprets certain U.S. Supreme Court decisions as \u201cfurthering . . . trend to limit and not expand the use of per se characterizations and presumed damages in defamation cases\u201d).\nBearing these principles in mind, we now consider whether defendant\u2019s comments regarding plaintiffs fall within any of the three traditional categories of slander per se.\nDefendant allegedly referred to plaintiffs as being \u201cgay\u201d and \u201cbisexual.\u201d This simple statement neither impeaches plaintiffs in their trade or business (the second traditional category of utterances considered slanderous per se) nor alleges them to have a \u201cloathsome disease\u201d (the third traditional category), and plaintiffs do not maintain otherwise. Plaintiffs argue in their brief, however, that because engaging in certain activity practiced by homosexuals is a felony in North Carolina, see N.C. Gen. Stat. \u00a7 14-177 (1993), falsely claiming plaintiffs are gay or bisexual imputes to them commission of a crime, and thus falls within the first class of utterances considered slanderous per se.\nIn support of their position, plaintiffs rely on the following language from the Restatement (Second) of Torts: \u201c[o]ne who publishes a slander that imputes serious sexual misconduct to another is subject to liability to the other without proof of special damages.\u201d Restatement (Second) of Torts \u00a7 574, at 195 (1977). Additionally, plaintiffs call to our attention case law from the state of Texas. See Buck v. Savage, 323 S.W.2d 363 (Tex. Civ. App. 1959); Head v. Newton, 596 S.W.2d 209 (Tex. Civ. App. 1980). However, we find plaintiff\u2019s argument and these authorities unpersuasive.\nG.S. \u00a7 14-177 provides as follows:\nIf any person shall commit the crime against nature, with mankind or beast, he shall be punished as a Class H felon.\nThe crime against nature referred to in the statute:\nincludes acts with animals and acts between humans per anum and per os. . . . \u201c[0]ur statute is broad enough to include in the crime against nature other forms of the offense than sodomy and buggery. It includes all kindred acts of a bestial character . . . .\u201d\nState v. Harward, 264 N.C. 746, 746, 142 S.E.2d 691, 692 (1965) (citations omitted) (quoting State v. Griffin, 175 N.C. 768, 769, 94 S.E. 678, 679 (1917)). Thus, the statute prohibits conduct not necessarily embraced within the terms \u201cgay\u201d and \u201clesbian.\u201d See, e.g., Stein v. Trager, 36 Misc.2d 227, 228, 232 N.Y.S.2d 362, 364 (1962); contra Nowark v. MaGuire, 22 A.D.2d 901, 902, 255 N.Y.S.2d 318, 319 (1964). Nonetheless, \u201cthough penetration by or of a sexual organ is an essential element . . . , the crime against nature is not limited to penetration by the male sexual organ, State v. Joyner, 295 N.C. 55, 66, 243 S.E.2d 367, 374 (1978) (citation omitted), and includes cunnilingus. See State v. Thacker, 301 N.C. 348, 356, 271 S.E.2d 252, 257 (1980). However, the statute neither by its terms nor by judicial gloss proscribes sexual preference or the status of being homosexual; in order to violate the statute, a person must commit one of the specific acts coming within the purview of the statute. See Joyner, 295 N.C. at 66, 243 S.E.2d at 374. No allegations in plaintiffs\u2019 complaint assert defendant made a statement that plaintiffs engaged in any act.\nFurther, while the Texas case law cited by plaintiffs is to the contrary, numerous other courts considering the question have concluded that a simple statement descriptive of an individual\u2019s alleged sexual orientation does not as a matter of law impute to that individual commission of a crime.\nFor example, the Illinois Court of Appeals in Moricoli v. Schwartz, 361 N.E.2d 74 (Ill. Ct. App. 1977), found that while defendant\u2019s reference to plaintiff as a \u201cfag\u201d could reasonably only be interpreted to assert plaintiff was homosexual, \u201c[t]he statements complained of ... do not, of themselves, import commission of a crime . . . .\u201d Id. at 76. Similarly, the Supreme Court of Rhode Island has stated:\nwe are ... of the opinion that the mere use of the term in question [meaning coition by one man with another per os] . . . unaccompanied by language or other circumstances which, fairly considered, would be understood as charging the plaintiff with having actually committed an act of unnatural coition, is insufficient to support an action for slander.\nMorrissette v. Beatte, 17 A.2d 464, 465 (R.I. 1941). Finally, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently struck down a Department of Defense directive barring persons of homosexual orientation from serving in our nation\u2019s armed forces. Steffan v. Aspin, 62 U.S.L.W. 2309 (D.C. Cir. Nov. 16, 1993). The court pointedly observed:\nThe secretary\u2019s justification for the gay ban presumes that a certain class of persons will break the law or [military] rules solely because of their thoughts and desires. This is inherently unreasonable.\n... A person\u2019s status alone ... is an inadequate basis upon which to impute misconduct. Accordingly, the secretary\u2019s \u201cpropensity\u201d argument, which presumes that \u201cdesire\u201d will lead to misconduct, is illegitimate as a matter of law.\nId. at 2309-10.\nWe agree with these courts that referring to a person as \u201cgay\u201d or \u201cbisexual\u201d is not tantamount to charging that individual with the commission of a crime violative of G.S. \u00a7 14-177. The \u201claw contemplates that in order to be actionable per se a false statement must impute that a person is guilty of a punishable offense.\u201d Williams, 10 N.C. App. at 388, 179 S.E.2d at 323 (accusing plaintiffs of being \u201cgangsters\u201d did not charge them with a \u201cspecific crime for which they could be indicted and punished\u201d); see also Stutts v. Power Co., 47 N.C. App. 76, 82, 266 S.E.2d 861, 865 (1980) (calling plaintiff \u201cdishonest\u201d or charging that plaintiff was untruthful not actionable per se); cf. Charles T. McCormick, The Measure of Damages for Defamation, 12 N.C.L. Rev. 120, 121-122 (1934) (statement that individual is a \u201cthief\u201d would be slander per se). Moreover, the label of \u201cgay\u201d or \u201cbisexual\u201d does not carry with it an automatic reference to any particular sexual activity; indeed, as the District of Columbia appellate court pointed out, it does not necessarily connote sexual activity at all, but rather inclination or preference. Steffan, 62 U.S.L.W. at 2309-10.\nBased on the foregoing, therefore, we hold as a matter of law that defendant\u2019s alleged statements about plaintiffs, liberally construed and taken as true, do not fall within any of the three traditional categories of defamatory utterances considered slanderous per se. Consequently, plaintiffs\u2019 allegations could support only an action based upon slander per quod. As indicated above, this would require the pleading of special damages concededly absent in this case.\nOur consideration of plaintiffs\u2019 appeal would ordinarily end at this point; however, plaintiffs\u2019 primary argument before us is that phraseology taken from a recent decision of our Supreme Court, West v. King\u2019s Dept. Store, Inc., 321 N.C. 698, 365 S.E.2d 621, (1988), and repeated or cited by this Court in certain subsequent decisions, see Friel v. Angell Care Inc., 113 N.C. App. 505, 440 S.E.2d 111 (1994); Shillington v. K-Mart Corp., 102 N.C. App. 187, 402 S.E.2d 155 (1991); and Harris v. Temple, 99 N.C. App. 179, 392 S.E.2d 752, disc. review denied, 327 N.C. 428, 395 S.E.2d 678 (1990), indicates our courts have judicially \u201cextended [the] traditional categories\u201d of slander per se. Plaintiffs insist West makes it \u201cvery clear that defamation per se is not limited to the classic categories of infamous crime, loathsome disease, and impeachment in trade or profession.\u201d We disagree.\nThe plaintiffs in West were accused of having stolen items they had actually purchased from defendant department store. Plaintiffs subsequently brought suit alleging, inter alia, slander per se. At the close of plaintiffs\u2019 evidence, the trial court directed verdict in favor of defendant; this Court affirmed on the grounds of insufficiency of the evidence. In discussing the propriety of the trial court\u2019s ruling with respect to the slander per se claim, our Supreme Court stated:\nTo establish a claim for slander per se, a plaintiff must prove: (1) defendant spoke base or defamatory words which tended to prejudice him in his reputation, office, trade, business or means of livelihood or hold him up to disgrace, ridicule or contempt-, (2) the statement was false; and (3) the statement was published or communicated to and understood by a third person.\nWest, 321 N.C. at 703, 365 S.E.2d at 624-25 (emphasis added) (citing Presnell v. Pell, 298 N.C. 715, 260 S.E.2d 611 (1979); Morrow v. Kings Department Stores, 57 N.C. App. 13, 290 S.E.2d 732, disc. review denied, 306 N.C. 385, 294 S.E.2d 210 (1982)). Plaintiffs rely on the italicized portion of this passage to support their argument that the traditional classifications of slander per se were broadened by the Court.\nPrior to discussing plaintiffs\u2019 reliance on West, we briefly consider those recent decisions from this Court which have cited to or quoted from West. See, e.g., Harris, 99 N.C. App. at 181-82, 392 S.E.2d at 752-53; Shillington, 102 N.C. App. at 194, 402 S.E.2d at 159; Friel, 113 N.C. App. at 509, 440 S.E.2d at 113-14.\nIn Harris, defendant followed plaintiff to a store\u2019s exit door and accused her of writing a worthless check to purchase groceries. This Court held the facts were distinguishable from those in West because the plaintiff in Harris presented sufficient evidence the statements were published, heard and understood by onlookers. Harris, 99 N.C. App. at 181-82, 392 S.E.2d at 753. The Shillington Court, citing to West, merely stated: \u201cTo establish a claim for slander per se, a plaintiff must prove: (1) that defendant\u2019s statement was slanderous per se, (2) the statement was false, and (3) the statement was published or communicated to and understood by a third person.\u201d Shillington, 102 N.C. App. at 194, 402 S.E.2d at 159. Lastly, in Friel, although this Court quoted the precise language from West at issue in the case sub judice, we held summary judgment for defendant was proper because plaintiff had not produced evidence of the untruth of allegedly slanderous statements made about her (relating to her job performance). Friel, 113 N.C. App. at 509, 440 S.E.2d at 113-14. Accordingly, none of our cases citing West concern themselves, directly or indirectly, with whether there now exists a judicially created fourth category of defamatory utterances deemed slander per se \u2014 those tending to hold a person up to \u201cdisgrace, ridicule or contempt.\u201d\nReturning to West itself, it is significant preliminarily to note the context in which the language used by the West Court arose. The Court stated \u201c[t]o establish a claim for slander per se, a plaintiff must prove [the following three things].\u201d West, 321 N.C. at 703, 365 S.E.2d at 624. Thus, the Court was merely listing the elements of a slander per se claim \u2014 not specific categories of slander per se. In affirming our ruling, the Court observed that \u201c[pjlaintiffs failed to produce any evidence that anyone, other than the plaintiffs themselves, heard the accusations made by defendant\u2019s manager.\u201d Id. at 704, 365 S.E.2d at 625. The Court thus based its decision upon plaintiffs\u2019 failure to prove publication (an element of any slander action) and the additional language (specifically the words \u201cor [tended to] hold him up to disgrace, ridicule or contempt\u201d) was unnecessary to the court\u2019s holding and therefore dictum. See Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 454 (6th ed. 1990) (\u201cStatements and comments in an opinion concerning some rule of law or legal proposition not necessarily involved nor essential to determination of the case in hand are obiter dicta, and lack the force of an adjudication.\u201d); see also State v. Scoggin, 236 N.C. 1, 13, 72 S.E.2d 97, 105 (1952) (Ervin, J., concurring) (\u201cThe various statements in the Court\u2019s opinion which were not necessary to the decision of that precise question constitute obiter dicta and have no effect as declaring the law.\u201d). Notably absent was any indication by the Court of its intent to establish a new category of slander per se (significant in light of the lack of prior case authority, see infra). Moreover, the Court did not address as such the categories of slander per se or within which particular category the statements at issue might fall. In that regard, we note the defendant in West indisputably charged plaintiffs with commission of the crime of theft (shoplifting).\nIn addition, the West Court referred to Presnell v. Pell, 298 N.C. 715, 260 S.E.2d 611 (1979) and Morrow v. Kings Department Stores, 57 N.C. App. 13, 290 S.E.2d 732 (1982), as authority for its statement regarding the elements of a claim of slander per se. However, neither case contains the language employed by the West Court.\nPresnell states: \u201c[t]he rumors and accusations imputed reprehensible conduct to plaintiff and tended to prejudice her standing among her fellow workers, stain her character as an employee of the public school system, and damage her chances of securing other public employment in the future.\u201d Presnell, 298 N.C. at 719, 260 S.E.2d at 614. Our language in Morrow tracked the long-standing definition of slander generally (not slander per se) as \u201cthe speaking of base or defamatory words which tend to prejudice another in his reputation, office, trade, business or means of livelihood.\u201d Morrow, 57 N.C. App. at 20, 290 S.E.2d at 736 (citation omitted). Considered in view of the cases cited for authority, moreover, the dictum in West arguably could be read as merely descriptive of a manner of prejudicing one in that individual\u2019s business or means of livelihood by holding that person \u201cup to disgrace, ridicule or contempt\u201d therein. Such an interpretation is supported by previous case law from our Supreme Court directing that statements impeaching one\u2019s trade or profession must do more than merely injure a person \u201cin his business [and] ... (1) must touch the plaintiff in his special trade or occupation, and (2) must contain an imputation necessarily hurtful in its effect on his business.\u201d Badame, 242 N.C. at 757, 89 S.E.2d at 468 (citation omitted). Considering the West language as referring to trade or profession is further strengthened by the fact that our research reveals no case from this State\u2019s appellate courts prior to West which, in discussing the categories of slander, includes the phraseology \u201cor hold him up to disgrace, ridicule or contempt.\u201d West, 321 N.C. at 703, 365 S.E.2d at 624. In the words of this Court as recently as 1986, \u201c[t]his broad category [tending to subject one to ridicule, contempt or disgrace] is notably absent from decisions discussing slander,\u201d Morris, 78 N.C. App. at 675 n.4, 338 S.E.2d at 566 n.4.\nHowever, the words \u201cor hold [one] up to disgrace, ridicule or contempt\u201d do regularly appear in cases concerning the tort of libel (written or printed defamation). See, e.g., Renwick v. News and Observer and Renwick v. Greensboro News, 310 N.C. 312, 317, 312 S.E.2d 405, 408-09, reh\u2019g denied, 310 N.C. 749, 315 S.E.2d 704, cert. denied, 469 U.S. 858, 83 L.Ed.2d 121 (1984):\nUnder the well established common law of North Carolina, a libel per se is a publication by writing, printing, signs or pictures which, when considered alone without innuendo, colloquium or explanatory circumstances: (1) charges that a person has committed an infamous crime; (2) charges a person with having an infectious disease; (3) tends to impeach a person in that person\u2019s trade or profession; or (4) otherwise tends to subject one to ridicule, contempt or disgrace.\n(Emphasis added) (citation omitted). See also Flake v. News Co., 212 N.C. 780, 785-86, 195 S.E. 55, 59-60 (1938):\nA libel per se is a malicious publication . . . injurious and defamatory, tending either to blacken the memory of one dead or the reputation of one who is alive and expose him to public hatred, contempt or ridicule. . . . [D]efamatory matter . . . may be libelous and actionable per se . . , if they [sic] tend to expose plaintiff to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, aversion or disgrace .... [B]ut defamatory words to be libelous per se must be susceptible of but one meaning . . . and . . . tend to disgrace and degrade the party or hold him up to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, or cause him to be shunned and avoided.\n(Emphasis added) (citations omitted).\nProfessor McCormick comments that formulation of separate rules for libel and slander appears to have been influenced by the growth of education and printing, and he believes there developed a deliberate attempt to tip the scales \u201cagainst those who deliberately put down on paper a lasting memorial of any lie against a neighbor\u2019s good name\u201d and to handicap those who complain to the courts for \u201coral detractions of the more trivial sort.\u201d McCormick, supra, at 121. The Ohio Court of Claims, discussing the distinction in the treatment of damages between libel and slander, commented as follows:\nIn an action for libel, damages may be presumed for a great many categories of publication, considered libelous per se, because of the much greater harm and likelihood of malice associated with written publications. Thus, it is sufficient that a written statement merely exposed another to hatred, ridicule, contempt or disgrace in order for a plaintiff to avoid the requirement of proving special damages.\nThe law of slander, on the other hand, is much more circumscribed so that, except for certain limited categories of statements, an action cannot be maintained upon a slander unless the plaintiff is able to prove that he was the object of special damage.\nKey v. Ohio Dept. of Rehab. & Corr., 598 N.E.2d 207, 209 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 1990).\nThis historical development of distinct rules for libel and slander, as well as the trend not to expand per se characterizations, see, e.g., Hayes, 832 P.2d at 1024, 1025, coupled with the lack of pronouncement by our Supreme Court specifying an intent to create a new slander per se category (especially under the circumstance of no previous case authority), all militate against the application of the West language which plaintiff urges upon us. In addition, the critical phrase is dictum not relied upon by the Court for its holding, and the language is also susceptible of an interpretation consistent with existing law prior to West.\nIn sum, therefore, we do not read either the dictum in West or the cited cases from our Court to have adopted into the general law of slander a fourth category of slander per se as contended by plaintiffs, and we reaffirm the historical distinction between libel and slander. Tallent, 57 N.C. App. at 251, 291 S.E.2d at 338 (\u201cdefamation includes two distinct torts, libel and slander\u201d); but see Andrews v. Elliot, 109 N.C. App. 271, 274, 426 S.E.2d 430, 432 (1993) (blurs differentiation by speaking of plaintiff\u2019s action as one for defamation and utilizing language from cases dealing with both libel and slander). Accordingly, based upon our previous analysis, we hold the trial court properly allowed defendant\u2019s Rule 12(b)(6) motion.\nNonetheless, assuming arguendo that a new class of slander per se was created in West, which assumption we expressly reject, the bald statement that plaintiffs are \u201cgay and bisexual,\u201d standing starkly alone and nothing else appearing, does not as a matter of law hold plaintiffs up to \u201cdisgrace, ridicule or contempt\u201d so as to constitute slander per se under any purported fourth category thereof.\nIn addressing the question of whether a false designation of homosexuality is slanderous per se, courts across the country not surprisingly have taken varying approaches. In addition to the Texas court\u2019s rationale referred to above involving imputation of criminal conduct, Buck, 323 S.W.2d at 369; Head, 596 S.W.2d at 210, other courts have found the allegation slanderous per se as implying immorality or unchastity. See, e.g., Schomer v. Smidt, 113 Cal. App. 3d 828, 833-35, 170 Cal. Rptr. 662, 664-66 (1980), disapproved on other grounds, Miller v. Nestande, 192 Cal. App. 3d 191, 237 Cal. Rptr. 359 (1987), and Nazeri v. Missouri Valley College, 860 S.W.2d 303, 311-12 (Mo. 1993) (both involving female plaintiffs and relying in part on state case and statutory law that allegation of a woman\u2019s unchastity constitutes a category of slander per se-, North Carolina statute creating similar category repealed in 1975); Manale v. City of New Orleans, 673 F.2d 122, 125 (5th Cir. 1982) (words \u201cgay,\u201d \u201cfruit,\u201d and \u201cya little fruit\u201d directed at fellow police officer defamatory per se according to Louisiana definition [\u201chaving a tendency to deprive a person of the benefit of public confidence or to injure him in his occupation or reputation,\u201d] but plaintiff under state law contrary to that of North Carolina nonetheless must plead and prove injury.).\nSeveral courts, on the other hand, citing the ongoing evolution of our social attitudes and mores, have come to the conclusion that a false accusation of homosexuality constitutes in essence slander per quod requiring allegation and proof of special damages as a condition of recovery. See, e.g., Hayes, 832 P.2d at 1026 (\u201cfalse statements concerning homosexuality are not slander per se even though they arise in an employment context and are directed at plaintiff\u2019s business reputation\u201d); Boehm v. American Bankers Ins. Group, Inc., 557 So.2d 91, 94 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1990) (\u201cthe modern view considering the issue, has not found statements regarding sexual preference to constitute slander per se . . . .\u201d), rev. denied, 564 So.2d 1085 (1990); Key, 598 N.E.2d at 209 (action based upon accusation one is a homosexual \u201cconstitutes slander per quod and cannot be maintained unless plaintiff alleges and proves special and actual damages\u201d).\nWe consider the latter cases to express the better view. As stated by the Illinois appellate court, when expressly declining to adopt a category of slander per se for false imputations of homosexuality:\nWe feel that in view of the changing temper of the timesf,] such presumed damage to one\u2019s reputation, from the type of utterances complained of in the instant case, is insufficient to mandate creation of such a category.\nMoricoli, 361 N.E.2d at 76. Similarly, as North Carolina progresses through the mid 1990\u2019s, we are unable to rule the bare allegation that an individual is \u201cgay\u201d or \u201cbisexual\u201d constitutes today an accusation which, as a matter of law and absent any \u201cextrinsic, explanatory facts,\u201d Badame, 242 N.C. at 757, 89 S.E.2d at 467, per se holds that individual up to \u201cdisgrace, ridicule or contempt.\u201d West, 321 N.C. at 703, 365 S.E.2d at 624. Nonetheless, individuals such as plaintiffs who feel themselves falsely impugned as homosexual are not without remedy in today\u2019s society. It remains for them to pursue an action based upon pleading and proof of special damages. See, e.g., Beane, 5 N.C. App. at 278, 168 S.E.2d at 238 (citations omitted).\nAccordingly, even considering plaintiffs\u2019 argument that West created a broad new category of slander per se, the allegations of their complaint do not set forth a legally sufficient claim for relief based upon that theory. See, e.g., Hendrix, 67 N.C. App. at 356, 313 S.E.2d at 26-27.\nBased on the foregoing, therefore, the trial court properly granted defendant\u2019s Rule 12(b)(6) motion and the court\u2019s judgment dismissing plaintiff\u2019s complaint is affirmed.\nAffirmed.\nJudges EAGLES and MARTIN concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JOHN, Judge" } ], "attorneys": [ "Smith, Foll\u00edn & James, by Norman B. Smith, for plaintiff-appellants.", "Frazier, Frazier & Mahler, by James D. McKinney and Torin L. Fury, for defendant-appellee.", "Moore and Brown, by David B. Puryear, Jr., for defendant-appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "KELLY DONOVAN and TONYA HUNTER v. RICHARD FIUMARA\nNo. 9218SC582\n(Filed 3 May 1994)\n1. Libel and Slander \u00a7 35 (NCX4th) \u2014 failure to allege special damages \u2014failure to state a claim for slander per quod\nIt was uneontroverted that plaintiffs failed to state a claim for slander per quod where the complaint contained no assertion of special damages, and plaintiffs in their appellate brief conceded the absence of such allegation.\nAm Jur 2d, Libel and Slander \u00a7\u00a7 399 et seq.\n2. Libel and Slander \u00a7 14 (NCI4th)\u2014 falsely claiming person gay or bisexual \u2014no imputation of crime \u2014no slander per se\nThere was no merit to plaintiffs\u2019 contention that, because engaging in certain activity practiced by homosexuals is a felony in North Carolina, falsely claiming plaintiffs were gay or bisexual imputed to them commission of a crime, and this language thus fell within the first class of utterances considered slanderous per se, since referring to a person as gay or bisexual is not tantamount to charging that individual with the commission of a crime violative of N.C.G.S. \u00a7 14-177.\nAm Jur 2d, Libel and Slander \u00a7\u00a7 27 et seq.\nImputation of homosexuality as defamation. 3 ALR4th 752.\nImputation of criminal, abnormal, or otherwise offensive sexual attitude or behavior as defamation \u2014post-New York Times cases. 57 ALR4th 404.\n3. Libel and Slander \u00a7 13 (NCI4th)\u2014 slander per se \u2014three categories \u2014holding person up to disgrace, ridicule, or contempt \u2014no fourth category of slander per se\nThere was no merit to plaintiffs\u2019 contention that dictum taken from West v. King\u2019s Dept. Store, Inc., 321 N.C. 698, and repeated or cited by the Court of Appeals in subsequent decisions indicates that North Carolina courts have judicially extended the traditional categories of slander per se beyond those of infamous crime, loathsome disease, and impeachment in trade or profession to create another category of holding a person up to disgrace, ridicule, or contempt, words which regularly appear in libel cases, and the Court of Appeals reaffirms the historical distinction between libel and slander.\nAm Jur 2d, Libel and Slander \u00a7\u00a7 71 et seq.\n4. Libel and Slander \u00a7 13 (NCI4th)\u2014 allegation that person is gay or bisexual \u2014 person not held up to disgrace, ridicule, or contempt\nEven if West v. King\u2019s Dept. Store, Inc., 321 N.C. 698, did create a new class of slander per se, which assumption the Court expressly rejects, the Court is unable to rule the bare allegation that an individual is gay or bisexual constitutes today an accusation which, as a matter of law and absent any extrinsic, explanatory facts, per se holds that individual up to disgrace, ridicule or contempt.\nAm Jur 2d, Libel and Slander \u00a7\u00a7 71 et seq.\nImputation of homosexuality as defamation. 3 ALR4th 752.\nAppeal by plaintiffs from judgment entered 12 May 1992 by Judge Judson D. DeRamus, Jr. in Guilford County Superior Court. Heard in the Court of Appeals 29 April 1993.\nSmith, Foll\u00edn & James, by Norman B. Smith, for plaintiff-appellants.\nFrazier, Frazier & Mahler, by James D. McKinney and Torin L. Fury, for defendant-appellee.\nMoore and Brown, by David B. Puryear, Jr., for defendant-appellee." }, "file_name": "0524-01", "first_page_order": 552, "last_page_order": 566 }