Wennhak v Morgan

Wennhak v Morgan
Decided1888 (1888)
Citation[1888] 20 QBD 635

Wennhak v Morgan is a leading case in English defamation law, that held that communication with one's own spouse will not be considered to be 'published' for the purposes of defamation cases.[1]

In Wennhak, Huddleston B thought (with Manisty J. agreeing) that the question could be decided “on the common law principle that husband and wife are one”, and that accordingly there had been no publication.[2]

“[T]he maxim and principle acted on for centuries is still in existence, viz, that as regards this case, husband and wife are in point of law one person.”[3]

References

  1. ^ Defamation Lecture Notes.
  2. ^ Wennhak v Morgan (1888) 20 QBD 635 at 639.
  3. ^ Wennhak v Morgan (1888) 20 QBD 635 at 637.


Stub icon

This article related to English law is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.