Defamation Lawyers
While many personal injuries involved medical injuries, the law also recognizes injury to an individual or business’s reputation and you can be compensated for it under the law of defamation.
Defamation occurs when someone makes a statement about an individual or a business that is untrue and which causes harm to that individual or business’s reputation. This is referred to as libel, when written, and slander when spoken. Damages are presumed in cases of libel, however for slander you may need to show actual loss.
It is important to note that just because someone printed or said something that would result in negatively effecting and individual or business’s reputation, that doesn’t mean you can sue them. There are strong defenses in defamation cases, namely that the statement made is true, that it was a fair comment in the circumstances or that the person making the statement had qualified privilege which permits them to make such statements in the exercise of their duty, for example reporters.
With the internet and social media so prevalent in people’s lives nowadays, the area of defamation is growing. Examples of types of defamation that occur are:
- Publishing articles which are untrue and harmful
- Negative postings about someone on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok)
- Speaking untruths regarding co-workers in front of other co-workers or clients
- Posting false reviews on Yelp or other such review sites
- Sending Emails within an office with negative and untrue statements about a co-worker
If you have suffered from defamation, call the lawyers at Taylor & Blair LLP today.