Is a person required to demonstrate actual harm in order to sue for defamation?

In Washington, a person is not required to demonstrate actual harm in order to sue for defamation. This is because Washington has adopted the strict liability standard when it comes to defamation. Under this standard, a person does not need to prove that they were actually harmed by the false statement in order to prevail in a defamation lawsuit. That being said, although there is no requirement to demonstrate actual harm in Washington, if a person chooses to bring a defamation lawsuit, then they must demonstrate certain elements of defamation. These elements include that some false statement was made, that the false statement was published (or shared) with at least one other person, and that the false statement tended to harm the reputation of the person who was defamed. Additionally, Washington law allows a person who has been defamed to bring an action for damages even if they did not suffer actual financial harm. This is because defamatory statements can lead to humiliation, emotional distress, and a number of other intangible harms. Therefore, even if a person suing for defamation in Washington did not incur any financial harm as a result of the defamation, they can still be awarded damages for more intangible types of harm.

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Is a person required to demonstrate actual harm in order to sue for defamation?

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