Defamatory Statement - Law Dictionary Search Results
Home Dictionary Name: defamatory statementDefamatory statement
Defamatory statement, is a statement which tends to lower a person in the estimation of right thinking members of society generally or to cause him to be shunned or avoided or to expose him to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or to disparage him in his office, profession, calling, trade or business, Halsbury's Laws of England (28), para 10, p. 8....
Libel
Libel [fr. libellus, Lat.; libelle, Fr.]. False defamatory words, if written and published, constitute a libel: Odgers on libel, p. 1. 'Everything printed or written, which reflects on the character of another, and is published without lawful justification or excuse, is a libel whatever the intention may have been', O'Brien v. Clement, (1846) 15 M & W 435, per Parke, B. A statement in a talking film is a libel and not merely a slander, Yossopoff v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Picture Corporation, 78 Sol Jo 617. As to publication by dictation, etc., to a typist, see Osborn v. Boulter & Son, (1930) 2 KB 226. All contumelious matter that tends to degrade a man in the opinion of his neighbours, or to make him ridiculous, will amount (when conveyed in writing, or by picture, effigy, or the like, Monson v. Tussauds, Ltd., (1894)1 QB 671, to libel. A writing of fictitious character which incidentally contains the name of a real person may be a libel: see Jones v. Hulton & Co., 1910 AC 20, where Lord ...
libel
libel [Anglo-French, from Latin libellus, diminutive of liber book] 1 : complaint used esp. in admiralty and divorce cases 2 a : a defamatory statement or representation esp. in the form of written or printed words ;specif : a false published statement that injures an individual's reputation (as in business) or otherwise exposes him or her to public contempt b : the publication of such a libel c : the crime or tort of publishing a libel see also single publication rule New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in the Important Cases section compare defamation, slander NOTE: Although libel is defined under state case law or statute, the U.S. Supreme Court has enumerated some First Amendment protections that apply to matters of public concern. In New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, the Court held that in order to recover damages a public person (as a celebrity or politician) who alleges libel (as by a newspaper) has to prove that “the statement was made with ‘actual malice’ &...
reckless disregard of the truth
reckless disregard of the truth or reckless disregard for the truth 1 : disregard of the truth or falsity of a defamatory statement by a person who is highly aware of its probable falsity or entertains serious doubts about its truth or when there are obvious reasons to doubt the veracity and accuracy of a source [the knowingly false statement and the false statement made with reckless disregard of the truth, do not enjoy constitutional protection "Garrison v. Louisiana, 379 U.S. 64 (1964)"] 2 : a reckless lack of attention to the truth that misleads or deceives another (as a magistrate) [whether false statements were made intentionally or in reckless disregard of the truth in support of the warrant "State v. O'Neil, 879 P.2d 950 (1994)"] ...
privileged communication
privileged communication 1 : confidential communication 2 a : a defamatory communication that does not expose the party making it to the liability that would follow from it if not privileged called also absolutely privileged communication b : a defamatory statement made by one person to another who is in a confidential relation (as that of a prospective employer) or who has an interest therein that may upon proof of bad faith or actual malice be deprived of its privileged character called also conditionally privileged communication ...
malice
malice 1 a : the intention or desire to cause harm (as death, bodily injury, or property damage) to another through an unlawful or wrongful act without justification or excuse b : wanton disregard for the rights of others or for the value of human life c : an improper or evil motive or purpose [if cannot be proved or a benign purpose can be imagined "David Kairys"] d : actual malice in this entry actual malice 1 : malice proved by evidence to exist or have existed in one that inflicts unjustified harm on another: as a : an intent to injure or kill b : malice called also express malice malice in fact 2 a : the knowledge that defamatory statements esp. regarding a public figure are false b : reckless disregard of the truth see also public figure New York Times Co. v. Sullivan in the Important Cases section implied malice : malice inferred from the nature or consequences of a harmful act done without justification or excuse ;also : malice inferred from subjective awarenes...
per se
per se [Latin, by, of, or in itself] 1 : inherently, strictly, or by operation of statute, constitutional provision or doctrine, or case law [the transaction was illegal per se] see also negligence per se at negligence nuisance per se at nuisance 2 : without proof of special damages or reference to extrinsic circumstances [defamatory statements that were actionable per se] compare per quod adj : being such inherently, clearly, or by operation of statute, constitutional provision or doctrine, or case law [it is clear that licensing of adult entertainment establishments is not a per se violation of the First Amendment "Club Southern Burlesque, Inc. v. City of Carrollton, 457 S.E.2d 816 (1995)"] [a per se conflict of interest] ...
republish
republish 1 : to publish again or anew [ing the defamatory statements] 2 : to execute (a will) anew usually through the execution of a codicil incorporating the will by reference and with the result of rendering an otherwise invalid will valid ...
retraction
retraction : an act of taking back or withdrawing [ of a confession] [her of the defamatory statement] ...
Reckless disregard of the truth
Reckless disregard of the truth, means a reckless lack of attention to the truth that misleads or deceives another (as a Magistrate), State v. O'Neil, 879 p. 2d 950 (1994).Means disregard of the truth or falsity of a defamatory statement by a person who is highly aware of its probable falsity or entertains serious doubts about its truth or when there are obvious reasons to doubt the veracity and accuracy of a source, Garrison v. Louisiana, 379 US 64 (1964)....
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