What kinds of damages can a person recover in a defamation lawsuit?

In a defamation lawsuit in Washington, a person can recover damages related to their reputation, hurt feelings, and financial losses. When it comes to reputation, courts in Washington recognize that a person’s reputation is valuable and can’t be replaced with money. To compensate for this, courts may award "general damages," which are based on a jury’s assessment of how much harm the defamatory statement caused to the plaintiff’s reputation. When it comes to hurt feelings, a plaintiff may also be able to recover "emotional distress" damages from a defamation lawsuit in Washington. These damages are intended to compensate the plaintiff for mental anguish and distress caused by the false statement. Finally, a plaintiff may also be able to recover "special damages" or financial losses caused by the false statement. These damages are intended to compensate a plaintiff for any financial losses, such as lost wages, that they may have suffered due to the defamatory statement. In summary, a person can recover damages related to their reputation, hurt feelings, and financial losses in a defamation lawsuit in Washington.

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What kinds of damages can a person recover in a defamation lawsuit?

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