Libel

One of two forms of defamation, libel refers to the making of false, derogatory statements about another person which has often caused lawsuits in the past. Mostly, libel mirrors the same concepts of its counterpart, slander, excluding the fact that libel only applies to written words, whereas slander applies to spoken words. In either type, there are generally a few components that must take place in order for an instance to be considered defamation by a court. First, the statement(s) made about the plaintiff must have been false — there is no legal wrong in speaking the truth, even if it harms another person. Also, it is required that the instance of libel or somehow published, whether in a newspaper or magazine or online. Lastly, the claim cannot be considered unless damages of some kind have been suffered by the plaintiff. If these can be proved true, the plaintiff may be able to successfully sue for libel, possibly recovering both punitive and compensatory damages.

Fast Facts

  • Common defenses used by defendants in libel lawsuits include fair comment, opinion, and privilege

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Articles

Results 1-5 of 167 for "libel"

  • Defamation: Libel and Slander

    You may have heard the terms defamation, libel and slander used in the past, and particularly by the media whe...
    • Site: lawfirms.com
  • Defenses to Libel and Slander

    Defamation lawsuits are notoriously difficult to win. The First Amendment of the US Constitution is often prob...
    • Site: lawfirms.com
    • 10 of 12 user(s) found this useful
  • Statutes on Defamation, Libel, and Slandering

      Why are there Time Limits for Lawsuits? Each state has rules called “statute of limitations” which vary for ...
    • Site: personalinjurylawyer.com
  • Defamation and Slandering on the Internet

    Throughout history, defamation of character has been a legitimate crime, and legal systems have enacted protec...
    • Site: personalinjurylawyer.com
    • 10 of 10 user(s) found this useful
  • Process of Filing a Defamation, Slander, Libel Lawsuit

    Personal Injury cases are lawsuits brought by people who have been injured by another’s action or negligence. ...
    • Site: personalinjurylawyer.com
    • 9 of 9 user(s) found this useful

Q&A

Results 1-5 of 27 for "libel"

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