A form of publication which tends to cause one to lose the esteem of the community is defamation. This is injury to reputation. A person can be held liable for the defamation of another. In order to prove defamation, the plaintiff must prove:
- that a statement was made about the plaintiff's reputation, honesty or integrity that is not true;
- publication to a third party (i.e., another person hears or reads the statement); and
- the plaintiff suffers damages as a result of the statement.
Slander is a form of defamation that consists of making false oral statements about a person which would damage that person's reputation. If one spreads a rumor that his neighbor has been in jail and this is not true, the person making such false statements could be held liable for slander.
Defamation which occurs by written statements is known as libel. Libel also may result from a picture or visual representation. Truth is an absolute defense to slander or libel.
Some statements, while libelous or slanderous, are absolutely privileged in the sense that the statements can be made without fear of a lawsuit for slander. The best example is statements made in a court of law. An untrue statement made about a person in court which damages that person's reputation will generally not cause liability to the speaker as far as slander is concerned. However, if the statement is untrue, the person making it may be liable for criminal perjury.
If a communication is made in good faith on a subject in which the party communicating it has a legitimate right or interest in communicating it, this communication may be exempt from slander liability due to a qualified privileged.
The following form letter demands that someone cease making libelous or slanderous statements, or appropriate legal action will be taken.
Slander And Libel In Jamaica In Cook
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State:
Multi-State
County:
Cook
Control #:
US-00423BG
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Word;
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FAQ
A libel or slander lawsuit seeks monetary damages for harm caused by the statement, such as pain and suffering, damage to the plaintiff's reputation, lost wages or a loss of ability to earn a living, and personal emotional reactions such as shame, humiliation, and anxiety.
Companies, businesses and brands can be defamed in much the same way that an individual can. If you have a reputation in Jamaica, you can sue here even if the defamatory communication is published on the internet or abroad.
The value of your defamation case is based on your individual circumstances. If you win your defamation case, you could get millions of dollars or as little as $1. You can typically get compensation for financial losses and emotional distress in a defamation case.
Address It Directly: If appropriate, consider confronting the person spreading the slander. Approach them calmly and express how their words have affected you. Sometimes, a direct conversation can resolve misunderstandings. Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or colleagues about the situation.
Truth is the best defense to defamation. For example if sued for calling a person a criminal, then the defendant could produce a valid record of a criminal conviction, properly certified and exemplified and the defendant would probably be granted summary judgement.
Generally, to win a defamation lawsuit, you must prove that: Someone made a statement; The statement was published; The statement caused your injury; The statement was false; and. The statement did not fall into a privileged category.
Stay Calm : Don't react impulsively. Gather Information : Understand the details of the gossip or slander. Maintain Professionalism : Keep your composure and avoid retaliating. Address the Source : If appropriate, consider speaking directly to the person spreading the rumors.
Second, libel is actionable per se (i.e. without proof of damage) whereas slander, subject to exceptions (see below), is actionable only upon proof of 'special' damage (actual damage is probably a less misleading and therefore better phrase to use though)
If you have a reputation in Jamaica, you can sue here even if the defamatory communication is published on the internet or abroad.
The most common defenses to defamation are: 1) truth; 2) consent; 3) privilege; and 4) the statute of limitations. Perhaps the most distinct aspect of the defamation cause of action is that falsity is required. In other words, the statement publicized about the plaintiff must be false in order to prove defamation.
