Defamation is the terms used to describe the harmful spreading of a false statement of fact about a person or business. Slander is the term for defamation by the spoken word. Libel is the term for defamation by the written word. In order for a defamatory statement to be actionable it must be published. Publication is the technical term for the requirement that the false statement must be made to a third person. False accusations made directly to you are not covered by defamation, but if a false statement is made to a third person, it may be the basis of a lawsuit. The statement must be a statement of fact, and not a matter of opinion. The false factual statement must also cause harm to the person who is the victim of the falsehood, whether it is damage to their reputation in the community or economic loss. If no one believed the false statement made about the person, there are no damages. Defamation can be a very challenging area of the law, and anyone believing that they are the victim of defamation, slander, or libel should contact a lawyer.
