Defamation is an invasion of the interest in reputation. It may be libel or slander. (California Civil section 44; herein, “Civ. Code § __.”) The tort involves (a) a publication that is (b) false, (c) defamatory, and (d) unprivileged, and that (e) has a natural tendency to injure or that causes special damage.
The plaintiff must show that the false statement was so inherently defamatory that it falls into one of California's nine types of defamation per se or prove that they experienced damages to their reputation as a result of the statement.
The amount one can sue for defamation varies widely based on several factors including the severity and extent of damage caused by the defamatory statement. However, damages typically range from thousands to millions of dollars depending on circumstances such as loss earnings and emotional distress.
Defamation Per Se Under California Defamation Law In most California slander and libel cases, plaintiffs must prove how the communications under review caused material harm — except in per se lawsuits. A statement is considered defamatory per se if harm to the victim is inherent.
Definition of Defamation An imputation which is likely to lower the person in the estimation of right thinking people; An imputation which injures a persons reputation, by exposing them to hatred, contempt or ridicule; An imputation which intends to make a person be shunned or avoided.
Most evidence for a defamation case will be found and gathered by interviewing witnesses, obtaining documents, conducting legal research, and consulting with experts. Interviewing Witnesses. You will need to gather a list of witnesses who will be able to testify that they heard or read the defamatory statement.
The nine types of statements California has ruled to be defamatory per se include: Statements charging a plaintiff with a crime (or having been indicted, convicted, or punished for a crime). Statements that label a plaintiff, “communist.” Statements that a plaintiff has an infectious, contagious, or loathsome disease.
To damage the reputation of a person or group by saying or writing bad things about them that are not true: Mr Turnock claimed the editorial had defamed him.
For example, if someone spreads a false rumor about a person's professional conduct that leads to job loss or social stigma, it qualifies as defamation. Another example could be a newspaper publishing false claims about a celebrity's behavior that results in loss of endorsements.