Ziebell v. Lumbermens Printing Co‪.‬

DRIVER, J. -- This is an action for libel. Three separate demurrers, interposed by defendants to the amended complaint, were sustained. Plaintiffs declined to plead further, and the court entered its order dismissing the action. This appeal followed. For convenience, A. G. Ziebell will be referred to in this opinion as though he were the only appellant. The amended complaint alleged, in substance, that appellant was one of the commissioners of public utility district No. 1 of Snohomish county and also the president of the Puget Sound utility commissioners association, a voluntary association composed of the commissioners of public utility districts located in the portion of the state served by the Puget Sound Power and Light Company; that such association constituted a medium through which the public utility districts were attempting to negotiate for the purchase of the electrical properties of the power company; that, in conducting such negotiations, the districts were represented by a committee known as the Puget Sound negotiating committee, of which appellant was a member and the chairman.