§ 5-105. Assault, libel, or slander actions An action for assault, libel, or slander shall be filed within one year from the date it accrues.
To state a claim for defamation under Maryland law, a plaintiff must allege (1) that “the defendant made a defamatory statement to a third person,” (2) that “the statement was false,” (3) that “the defendant was legally at fault in making the statement,” and (4) that “the plaintiff suffered harm.” Lindenmuth v.
General Statutes of Limitations for Some Common Situations: Type of Claim, and Time LimitStatutory Code Courts and Judicial Proceedings (CJS) Judgments - 12 years CJS, § 5-102 Written Contracts Under Seal - 12 years CJS, § 5-102 Recover Land Trespassed Upon - 20 years CJS, § 5-10312 more rows •
In Maryland, to win a slander or libel lawsuit, public figures must prove the existence of actual malice on the part of the defendant. Private figures, however, only have to prove negligence on the part of the defendant.
To prevail on a defamation claim, a plaintiff must establish the following: That the defendant made a defamatory statement to a third person; That the statement was false; That the defendant was legally at fault in making the statement, and.
In Maryland, most cases must be filed within three years of the time when it was first possible to sue, but some must be filed sooner, and some may be filed later.
Slander per se is the spoken word version of libel per se—a false statement that is so obviously harmful that damage to a plaintiff's reputation is presumed. Examples of slander per se include false accusations of improper sexual conduct, criminal activity, or bad business dealings.
Statutes of Limitations in Maryland OffenseStatute : No time limit : No time limit Receiving stolen property: 2 years or no time limit Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-106(b)(1) (2025); Md. Code Crim. Law § 7-104(i) (2025) Robbery: No time limit 7 more rows •
Slander is a form of defamation that involves making false statements verbally about another person. Some common examples of slander include: Making false accusations about someone during a conversation that harms their reputation. Spreading damaging rumors in public settings or work environments.