Libel, slander, and defamation are causes of action for personal injury lawsuits: When do you have a claim?
Libel, slander, and defamation are causes of action for a personal injury lawsuit. Although the words are sometimes used interchangeably, there’s a different standard for how each qualifies as an injury. Let’s break it down.
Elements of a defamation lawsuit
“Defamation of character” is the overarching term for any statement that harms someone’s reputation, which is a personal injury.
There are 5 elements of a defamation lawsuit:
- A statement was made. If the statement was spoken, it’s called “slander.” If it’s written, it’s “libel.” The original intent for separating slander from libel was that slander is less harmful because it’s heard by certain people and doesn’t “last” as long as the written word. However, digital technology has changed the landscape. Libel includes digital statements, too. So if you make a defamatory statement in a video that’s posted online, it’s considered libel because it has as much staying power as the written word.
- The statement is published. “Publication” is very broad in this context. If your statement is anywhere that it can be read or heard by another person, it’s considered published. If the statement appears in the newspaper, it’s published. But, it’s equally so if you wrote it on paper with a magic marker and left it on a restaurant table where people would see it. Likewise, if you make a defamatory statement in a video and send that video to a friend via text message, it’s considered published as much as if it were shown on the TV news. The “publication” element is essentially saying that the statement must exist.
- A person or entity was injured. To prove injury, the plaintiff usually must show that the harm to their reputation resulted in economic damage (loss of business, earning capacity, or property). Some states allow non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress, etc.) where the injury is loss of standing in the community, personal humiliation, shame, or disgrace. In some states, the plaintiff can only recover non-economic damages if the defamation caused them to be charged with a crime or accused them of suffering from a communicable disease.
- The statement was false. A TRUE STATEMENT IS NOT DEFAMATORY. A plaintiff won’t be able to recover damages in a defamation lawsuit if the statement is found to be true.
- The statement wasn’t privileged information. Certain communications are privileged under the law. Privileged relationships include spouses, doctor/patient, lawyer/client, and witnesses who testify before the court. Statements made in these circumstances aren’t considered defamatory.
When is an opinion defamation?
You’re entitled to share your opinion. You can dislike or disagree with someone and say so without fear that you’ll be sued for defamation—depending on HOW you share your thoughts. Let’s back up for a second to what it means to have freedom of speech.
One misconception people have about freedom of speech is that you can say what you want in whatever forum you choose. People can get banned from Twitter, removed from restaurants or other public places, fired from a job, and so on, because of their speech. A social media platform is owned by a private company, as is a restaurant, a shopping center, and the company you work for (unless you’re a government employee). Freedom of speech only protects you from repercussions from the government, not a private entity.
For example, these types of speech are not protected by the First Amendment:
- Obscenity
- Fighting words
- Defamation, libel, and slander
- Child pornography
- Perjury
- Blackmail
- Inciting imminent lawless action
- True threats
- Solicitations to commit a crime
Example: “My neighbor, George, is a terrorist. He makes weapons in his backyard.” This might be a defamatory statement because the speaker presents it as fact, and the listener has no way to determine whether or not it’s true.
“I’ve seen my neighbor, George, in his backyard working with items that look like weapons. I think he is a terrorist.” This presents the speaker’s opinion about George, but also presents the reason why based on his observation. This statement might prompt the listener to want more information about George, but doesn’t definitively say he’s a terrorist. This statement would likely not be found to be defamation.
Calculating damages in a defamation personal injury case
There are three types of damages for defamation:
- Actual damages. These monetary damages allow the plaintiff to recover what was lost and restore them to the position they were in before the defamation. This might include money to cover lost wages or earning capacity, or for the loss of a business or property.
- Assumed damages. Even if there’s no way to make a specific calculation for the amount lost, the court can determine how much it assumes the plaintiff lost based on the harm to their reputation or character.
- Punitive damages. Punitive damages might be recovered if the plaintiff shows that the defendant acted with malice or fraud. This award is meant to punish the defendant for wrongdoing.
All three types of damages can be awarded for tangibles like the loss of a job or payment to cover therapy sessions, or intangibles like emotional pain and suffering.
Recent defamation cases
Beef Products Inc. v. Walt Disney Co., 2017: In a report on ABC News about low-cost processed beef trimmings, a correspondent referred to the substance as “pink slime.” The news reporter called it a “cheap substitute” for beef, saying that to package and label it as such was “economic fraud.” Public backlash led sales to drop. The company had to close three plants and lay off 700 employees. Walt Disney Co. (the parent of ABC) settled with BPI for an undisclosed amount for the defamation claim.
Aganost v. The Mortgage Specialists, Inc., 2018: A libel action was brought in New Hampshire state court against a Michael Gill, a mortgage broker who made defamatory statements on a billboard owned by his company. Gill used a billboard facing a public highway to accuse three businessmen of being drug dealers, money launderers, and extortionists. The plaintiffs, a developer, auto dealer, and banker were not, in fact, engaged in any of those acts. Each was awarded between $85 million and $97 million after the court found that Mr. Gill’s billboard statements were defamatory.
What to do if you’ve been sued for defamation of character
Freedom of speech is a right, but it’s not without consequences. If you have lost business, earnings, standing in your community, or suffered other losses as a result of damage to your reputation, you have rights, too. A personal injury lawyer helps build a case for defamation. In all likelihood, the first thing your lawyer will ask is whether the statement was true. If it’s not, you might have a case.
The Enjuris Personal Injury Law Firm Directory is your start to finding a lawyer in your state who’ll handle your case.
Other helpful resources:
- What does a personal injury lawyer do?
- How to find a personal injury lawyer
- Understanding your rights following an intentional tort
See our guide Choosing a personal injury attorney.