1 / 4

Explore Slander Definition: The Concept of Verbal Defamation

Embark on a guided journey with GetLegal as we navigate through the labyrinth of slander definition. Join us as we examine real-life examples, and shed light on its intricate complexities and unravel the profound impact of false verbal statements on individuals' lives.

getlegal
Télécharger la présentation

Explore Slander Definition: The Concept of Verbal Defamation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. SlanderDefinition-DiscoverwithGetLegal AltText:Slanderdefinition WhatIsSlander? Slanderdefinitionis:Makingfalseremarksaboutsomeonewiththeintentionofdamagingtheirreputationisreferredtobythislegalphrase.Theterm"slander"reallyappliestoabroadervarietyofdefamatoryactivitiesthatarenotcontainedinafixedmedia,suchaswriting, video,orsoundrecording,eventhoughitisusuallylinkedwithoraldefamatoryconduct. Slanderousremarksaretemporaryratherthanpersistent,andtheycanbeexpressedverbally orthroughgestures.Foracommenttobeconsideredslander,itmustbe untrueand communicatedtoothersasfact.Slanderisnotthesameastruestatementsoropinions expressed. SlanderIsaSpokenFormofDefamation Falsewordsmadeverballyorinwritingthatharmsomeone'sreputationareconsidered defamation.Itisnecessarytocommunicatewithathirdparty.Ifyoutell someonesomething falseandnooneelsehearsorreadsit,it'snotconsidereddefamation.Libelisthetermused for defamationthatisexpressedinwriting.Slanderisthetermusedwhenitisspoken.

  2. WhatAreSomeExamplesofSlander? • Adefamatorycommentneedstobefalseandhaveaplausiblechanceofharmingthe reputationofanotherindividual.Examplesinclude: • Untruestatementsthataperson wasconvictedofacrimeorthat they committed or attemptedtocommitacrime • Untrue statements allegingthataperson committedperjuryorotherwiseliedunder oath • Untruestatements thatapersonishavingan affair • Untrue statementsthatapersonhasasexuallytransmitteddisease • Untruestatements thatapersonhadsoughttreatmentfor substanceabuse • Untrue statementsthatapersonhadengagedindomesticviolence • WhatAreMyLegalRightsIfI’maVictimofSlander?|WhatAre DefensestoaSlanderClaim? • Thereisawidespreadmisconception thatallspeechisprotectedbytheFirstAmendmentof theUSConstitution.Inactuality,thereareanumberofrestrictionstotheconstitutional guaranteeoffreespeech,includingascommunicationthatisseenaslibelous,speechthat infringescopyrightortrademarkprotections,speechthatisjudgedobsceneorpornographic, andspeechthatencouragesillicitactivity. • CanISueSomeoneWhoSlanders Me? • Ineverycountry,slanderisconsideredatort,orcivilwrong.Asaresult,thevictimof slanderhastherighttosuethepersonwhomadethefalseallegationfordamages.Inordertoestablish defamation,theaggrievedpersonmustdemonstrate: • Thedefendantmadeacommunicationtoathirdparty; • Thecommunication allegedanuntrueandunprivilegedstatementoffact; • Thestatementcouldreasonablybeconstruedtoapplytotheplaintiff; and • Thecommunication causedtheplaintifftosufferinjuryor loss. • Butit'scrucialtorealizethat,dependingonwhethertheaccuserisaprivatecitizenorapublic figure,variousrulesmayapply. • StatementsRegardingPrivatePersons:Iftheslanderousspeechwasdirectedataprivate person,thedefendantcanbeheldaccountable: • Intentional—Thedefendantknewthestatementwasuntrue;

  3. Reckless—Thedefendantmadethestatementwitha reckless disregardforwhetheror notitwastrue;or • Negligent—Thedefendantfailedtoactreasonablytodeterminethetruthorfalsityof thestatement. • StatementsConcerningPublicFigures:Ifthesubjectofthestatementisregardedasapublic figure,thedefendantmayonlybeheldaccountableiftheremarksweremadecarelessly or willfully • IsSlanderaCriminalOffense? • Atthemoment,onlythirteenstates—Idaho, Louisiana,Michigan,Minnesota,Montana,New Hampshire,NewMexico,NorthCarolina,NorthDakota,Oklahoma,Utah,Virginia,and Wisconsin—havelawsthatpermittheprosecutionofcriminal defamation.However,asthebar ofproofinacriminalprosecutionismuchhigher,itisuncommonforapersontobefoundguiltyinthesejurisdictionsandgivenajailsentence. • WhatTypesofDamagesAreAvailableinSlanderClaims? • Aplaintiffwithadefamationclaimcantypicallyseekthesamekindsofdamagesasare availableinotherpersonalinjuryclaims: • Lostwages,income,orearnings • Anyunreimbursedmedicalexpenses,includingthecostsofpsychologicaloremotional counseling • Damagesfor anypain andsuffering—physical,psychological,or otherwise—aswellas anylossofreputationorsocialstandingaswellasanyhumiliation,dishonor, or embarrassmentbroughtonby thefalsestatement • Lossofconsortium orcompanionship, includingharmtoa marriageor relationshipor contactwithrelativesorfriendswhoweredupedintobelievingthefalsehood • Lossofenjoymentoflifecausedbyanxietyordepression • WhatDefensesAreAvailabletoAllegationsofSlander? • Thedefensesavailablegenerallycorrespondtotheelementsthatmustbeprovedtoshow slander: • Thetruthisanabsolutedefense—Aslanderclaimwillfailifthecentralfactual assertion canbeindependentlyconfirmedastrue. • Statementsofopinionarenotslander—Nonetheless,ajurymayconsiderallthefacts anddeterminethatanostensiblestatementofopinionwasactuallyacovered-up declarationoffact. • Statementsmadewiththeconsentoftheallegedvictimarenot slander.

  4. Statementsthatarenotcommunicatedtoorheardbyathirdpartywillnotbeslander.Statementsthatarenotcommunicatedtoorheardbyathirdpartywillnotbeslander. • Privilegedcommunicationsarenotslander—Communicationsmaybeexemptfrom qualifiedorabsoluteprivilege.Statementsmadeduringlegalprocedures,by certain governmentofficials,bylegislatorsduringasession,duringpoliticalbroadcastsor speeches,andbetweenspousesareallcoveredbyabsoluteprivilege.Certain statementsmadebygovernmentofficialsorinreports,testimonygivenduring legislativesessions,statementsmadeinself-defenseorindefenseofothers,and commentsincludedinevaluationsthataredeemedtobefaircriticismareallnormally protectedbyqualifiedprivilege.

More Related