Louis M. Loeb
Encyclopedia
Louis Melville Loeb was a New York City
lawyer
, general counsel for The New York Times
, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.
, graduating in 1915, Yale University
1915-1919, and Columbia Law School
1919-1922. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
, in which Loeb served as a second lieutenant
of field artillery in the United States Army
. At Yale, he was a champion swimmer and an actor. In 1926 he married Janet Cook and raised a son, Robert Louis Loeb, and daughter, Suzanne(Mrs. Sue L. Bianco).
1948-1972.
While at Lord Day, Loeb’s most prominent client was the New York Times Company, which he represented as general counsel from 1948 to 1967. Most famously, Loeb successfully represented the Times in the 1964 case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
before the United States Supreme Court. The court’s ruling held that news publications could not be sued for libel by public figures unless the plaintiffs were able to establish actual malice
in the false reporting of a news story. The case, which had been brought against the Times by Montgomery, Alabama
public safety commissioner L.B. Sullivan, allowed newspapers to report on the widespread chaos and police abuse accompanying the Civil Rights Movement. Loeb later called the libel cases he argued for The New York Times “the heaviest responsibility I’ve ever had since I began practicing law.”
In addition to private practice, Loeb held many civic posts. He served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1956 to 1958. In 1970 presided over the Bar’s Committee on Congressional Ethics, which recommended that legislators divest themselves of holdings in companies relevant to legislation they were drafting. He was also on the New York City Board of Health and life governor of the Society for New York Hospitals. He and wife Janet also made financial contribitions to the expansion of Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California, and bequeathed one million dollars to the San Diego Zoological Society. Loeb was also a longtime member of the Yale Club
and Century Club
in New York City and San Diego.
. He was 80 years old.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, general counsel for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, and a president of the New York City Bar Association.
Early life and education
Louis Loeb was born in New York City on July 12, 1898 to Emil and Blanche(Pulaski). He was educated at Phillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, graduating in 1915, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
1915-1919, and Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
1919-1922. His education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in which Loeb served as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
of field artillery in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. At Yale, he was a champion swimmer and an actor. In 1926 he married Janet Cook and raised a son, Robert Louis Loeb, and daughter, Suzanne(Mrs. Sue L. Bianco).
Career
Loeb began his career in 1923 with the law firm of Cook, Nathan, & Lehman, partnet 1927-1947, until becoming a partner at the firm of Lord Day & LordLord Day & Lord
Lord Day & Lord was a large, blue-chip New York City law firm. It was established in 1845 by Daniel Lord, his son Daniel De Forest Lord, and his son-in-law Henry Day. The firm had retained the same name until 1988 when it merged with smaller firm Barrett Smith Simon & Armstrong to become Lord Day &...
1948-1972.
While at Lord Day, Loeb’s most prominent client was the New York Times Company, which he represented as general counsel from 1948 to 1967. Most famously, Loeb successfully represented the Times in the 1964 case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 , was a United States Supreme Court case which established the actual malice standard which has to be met before press reports about public officials or public figures can be considered to be defamation and libel; and hence allowed free reporting of the...
before the United States Supreme Court. The court’s ruling held that news publications could not be sued for libel by public figures unless the plaintiffs were able to establish actual malice
Actual malice
Actual malice in United States law is a condition required to establish libel against public officials or public figures and is defined as "knowledge that the information was false" or that it was published "with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not." Reckless disregard does not...
in the false reporting of a news story. The case, which had been brought against the Times by Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
public safety commissioner L.B. Sullivan, allowed newspapers to report on the widespread chaos and police abuse accompanying the Civil Rights Movement. Loeb later called the libel cases he argued for The New York Times “the heaviest responsibility I’ve ever had since I began practicing law.”
In addition to private practice, Loeb held many civic posts. He served as president of the New York City Bar Association from 1956 to 1958. In 1970 presided over the Bar’s Committee on Congressional Ethics, which recommended that legislators divest themselves of holdings in companies relevant to legislation they were drafting. He was also on the New York City Board of Health and life governor of the Society for New York Hospitals. He and wife Janet also made financial contribitions to the expansion of Scripps Hospital in La Jolla, California, and bequeathed one million dollars to the San Diego Zoological Society. Loeb was also a longtime member of the Yale Club
Yale Club
The Yale Club may be:*The Yale Club of New York City*The Yale Club of Philadelphia*The Yale Glee Club*The Yale Corinthian Yacht Club...
and Century Club
Century Club
Century Club may refer to:*Centurion, a variation of the drinking game known as Power Hour*The Century Association, a prominent private authors and artists club, with its own building, in New York City...
in New York City and San Diego.
Death
Loeb died of a heart attack on March 16, 1979 in San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. He was 80 years old.