Jules Pond v. General Electric Company, a Corporation

Jules Pond brought an action against General Electric Company for damages on account of the publication of four supposed libels. The trial court sustained a motion to dismiss the amended complaint and, upon refusal of Pond to plead further, entered judgment dismissing the action. This appeal followed.

The “First Amended Complaint — Damages — Defamation” set up allegations outlined below. Pond is a qualified engineer who had been employed in Argentina, Asia and the United States by International General Electric Company and foreign subsidiaries thereof for some seventeen years. He resigned in 1950. He was given a service letter by the Company, wherein his various assignments and positions with the Company were set out in detail. It is related therein that he resigned because he believed his prospects with the Company were unsatisfactory. The letter, which contained references to his personality and his professional ability in rather glowing terms, concluded with hopes for his success in the future. The complaint then expressly alleges there was an “express understanding” between Pond and the Company that Pond could use this letter “for the purpose of obtaining employment” and that…