JN204 Lecture : sept25,week3tues - Copy.odt
Document Summary
A statement can be deemed defamatroy regardless of it"s intent and whether it was malicious. Historically: slander referred to a spoken verbal defamation while libel referred to one in printer materials. Slander required a plaintiff to prove a statement had damaged his reputation. It undermines a persons reputations as honest, law abiding and morally upright: thus, any allegations of misconduct, corruption, wrongdoing or criminal behaviour may qualify as defamatory. Judges consider the everyday commonly understood meanings of words in dispute. photos, caption and artwork. If they do so, they must be prepared to present evidence supporting their allegations in court to win a lawsuit: defamtory statements don"t have to be specific. Plaintiffs have won suits for being described as villains, rogues, rascals and cheaters: referring to someone who has not been charged as an alleged criminal offers no protection from defamation action.
