Torts - Libel and Slander - Calling a Person a Communist as Slader Per Se

In an action for slander, plaintiff alleged that on three separate occasions defendant had orally called or referred to plaintiff as a communist. The court rendered judgment against the defendant, holding that calling a person a communist is slander per se. On appeal, held, affirmed. Since membership in the Communist Party is a felony under Pennsylvania statute, falsely referring to a person as being a communist is slander per se.

Solosko v. Paxton, (Pa. 1956) 119 A. (2d) 230.