Under Pennsylvania law, defamation is categorized as either libel (written defamation) or slander (spoken defamation). Plaintiffs are required to prove the statement was false, published to a third party, made with fault, and resulted in actual damages unless the statement constitutes defamation per se.
Like libel, slander is a subset of defamation governed by the same legal standards. Pennsylvania law treats spoken defamation with the same seriousness as written defamation, recognizing the potential harm it can inflict on the victim.
Before filing a defamation lawsuit in Pennsylvania, it is important to gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. This includes: Documenting the Defamatory Statement: Preserve any written or recorded evidence of the false statement. This could include emails, social media posts, or witness statements.
This may occur in a newspaper or other type of publication, or online in a posted article or blog or even in social media. Slander – When a person makes a false, unwritten statement about the character or professional standing of another person, he or she has committed slander.
Elements of a Defamation Lawsuit in Pennsylvania False Statement: The statement in question must be false. Publication: The defamatory statement must be communicated to at least one third party.
In Pennsylvania, to bring a successful slander claim, the plaintiff must show that the false statement was made to a third party and caused harm to their reputation. One unique aspect of slander is the concept of slander per se.
To slander is making a false statement about another person or people verbally with the intent to defame the subject of the statements. Slander is a legal term used to describe defamation, or harming the reputation of a person or a business by telling one or more others something both untrue and damaging about them.
Generally, slander occurs when the reputation or good name of someone is damaged as a result of false statements that are orally made.
To succeed in a defamation lawsuit in Pennsylvania, you must establish four essential elements: A False Statement of Fact: The plaintiff must show that the defendant made a statement that was factually incorrect. Publication to a Third Party. Fault on the Part of the Defendant. Harm or Damage:
Understand Pennsylvania's Defamation Law The key elements a plaintiff must prove include: False Statement: The statement in question must be untrue. Truth is a complete defense to defamation claims. Publication: The statement must have been communicated to a third party.