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.
Defamation With Case Laws In Michigan
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If you're being defamed online, you can consider taking legal action against the defamer. Consult with an attorney to explore your options, which may include sending cease-and-desist letters, pursuing a defamation lawsuit, or seeking removal of the defamatory content through online platforms or hosting providers.
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.
Ct. App. 1984). Within the definition of defamation, “slander or libel per se exists when the words spoken or written are false and malicious and are injurious to a person in his or her profession or employment.” Id.
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.
Depending on the state where the claim is filed, the type of damages may include: Compensatory: Compensatory damages are actual losses such as loss of business, lost bonuses, lost clients, or additional expenses from the defamation of character. Additionally, emotional damage or a damaged reputation can be compensated.
In Michigan, defamation per se means certain statements automatically cause harm and the law will not allow them to stand. Statements are defamation per se if they falsely impute that a criminal offense has occurred or suggest falsely that someone has engaged in sexual misconduct.
Ct. App. 1984). Within the definition of defamation, “slander or libel per se exists when the words spoken or written are false and malicious and are injurious to a person in his or her profession or employment.” Id.
What is The Statute of Limitations in My State? – State Defamation Law Chart State / DistrictStatute of Limitations Michigan 1 year statute of limitations for defamation action Minnesota 2 year statute of limitations for defamation action Mississippi 1 year statute of limitations for defamation action22 more rows •
A person who wishes to take legal action for defamation must be able to prove that they have suffered, or could suffer, 'serious harm'. If a corporation is suing for defamation, it needs to prove that it has suffered 'serious financial loss' as a result of the publication of the allegedly defamatory matter.
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.
