The tort of slander of title and the related tort of disparagement of property are based on an intentional interference with economic relations. They are not personal torts; unlike slander of the person, they do not protect a person's reputation.” Bass v. Planned Mgmt.
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.
In Utah, person claiming defamation must prove that: The information was false and unprivileged. In publishing the statements, the defendant acted with the “requisite degree of fault.” When applied to a private individual, this requires simple negligence, while a public figure must prove actual malice.
The allegedly defamatory statement must state or imply facts which can be proved to be false, and name of plaintiff must show the statement to be false. “False” means that the statement is either directly untrue or that it implies a fact that is untrue. In addition, a defamatory statement must be materially false.
Generally, slander occurs when the reputation or good name of someone is damaged as a result of false statements that are orally made.
76-9-404. Criminal defamation. (1) A person is guilty of criminal defamation if he knowingly communicates to any person orally or in writing any information which he knows to be false and knows will tend to expose any other living person to public hatred, contempt, or ridicule.
Defamation of character is an act that occurs when someone's reputation and integrity are tarnished or damaged because of malicious intent by another party. You may have heard the terms libel and slander. Slander is orally dishonoring someone else, while libel is written defamation.
Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is an untrue defamatory statement that is spoken orally. The difference between defamation and slander is that a defamatory statement can be made in any medium. It could be in a blog comment or spoken in a speech or said on television.