What is defamation law?

Defamation law is a type of law that protects a person’s reputation from false and damaging statements. It is illegal to make a false statement about someone that could harm their reputation. In Texas, defamation can be either a criminal or civil offense. Criminal defamation is a form of defamation that damages a person’s reputation in such a way that it harms the public. This usually takes the form of slander (spoken words) or libel (written words). If someone is found guilty of criminal defamation, they can face fines and even jail time. Civil defamation is a form of defamation that harms a person’s reputation, but does not harm the public in general. Examples of civil defamation may include making a false statement about someone in the workplace or online. The injured party can sue for damages caused by civil defamation, including loss of reputation and emotional distress. In either case, a person cannot be found guilty of defamation unless it can be proven that they made a false statement that harmed the other person’s reputation. The burden of proof rests on the person making the claim. If the statement cannot be proven false, then the defamation claim will not be successful.

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What is defamation law?

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