Slander is defaming someone’s character through false and damaging statements to a third party. To be considered slander, the statements must be false and made maliciously. Slander laws allow for financial remedies, but there are acceptable defenses, such as opinions. Misrepresentations made in anger or about groups are not punishable, and false statements made in a courtroom are excluded from libel laws.
Slander is oral defamation of character. Defamation is a civil offense that occurs when one party makes false and damaging statements about another to a third party. Many jurisdictions have libel laws that address this type of behavior and allow the injured party to recover damages.
For statements made by one person about another to be considered slander, several circumstances must exist. To begin with, the statements must be passed on to a third party. The law generally does not recognize the possibility of defaming a person to himself. Also, the statements must be false. No matter how private or hurtful a comment is, it’s not illegal to say it if it’s true.
Furthermore, if a person wishes to use the slander laws to seek justice, he must be able to prove that the statements against him were made maliciously. To do this, he must prove that the defendant had an intention to harm. If someone wrongly misrepresents and injures another person, this is not considered a malicious act and therefore not libelous.
These laws allow a person to sue for personal injury in civil court, because they recognize that a large amount of damages can be caused by defamation. A person can lose their job or have their business ruined because of making false and harmful statements. He may suffer mentally and emotionally from the ridicule and difficulties created in his personal and social relationships.
Financial remedies, in the form of actual or punitive damages, may be awarded to a person suffering these or other hardships as a result of defamation. Before a person receives these damages, however, the defendant has a chance to defend himself. One aspect of slander laws that vary from place to place are acceptable defenses. For example, in some jurisdictions, a person cannot be held liable for statements that could be identified as opinions.
There are a few other instances where misrepresentations can be made about an individual without subjecting the individual to legal consequences. For example, statements made to the subject in anger are not punishable even if a third party listens. Broad statements made about groups, such as homosexuals, minorities, or an organization, do not give any individual from those groups the right to sue. Furthermore, false statements made by lawyers, witnesses or judges in a courtroom are excluded from libel laws.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
