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.
Particulars Of Claim For Defamation Of Character South Africa In Houston
Category:
State:
Multi-State
City:
Houston
Control #:
US-00423BG
Format:
Word;
Rich Text
Instant download
Description
Form popularity
More info
There are requirements that must be met before a claim of defamation can succeed in court. As a result of the defamation, the second plaintiff has been damaged in his reputation and has suffered damages in the sum of R500 000,00. WHEREFORE.The defendant may, in the answer, allege both the truth of the matter charged as defamatory and any mitigating circumstances admissible in evidence. Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury. In enforcing Title VII's prohibition of race and color discrimination, the EEOC has filed, resolved, and adjudicated a number of cases since 1964. 1255. By Mr. SHAFER: H. R. 2137. A bill to extend 'the contract for carrying the mail on star route No. 37303; to the Committee on Post Office and Civil. This is my personal selection of the most legally and factually interesting cases from England, Australia and Canada from the past year.
