Can a person be liable for repeating a defamatory statement?
Yes, a person can be liable for repeating a defamatory statement in South Dakota. According to South Dakota law, defamation is defined as “a false and defamatory statement about another communicated to a third party.” This means that a person can be liable if they make a false and defamatory statement about another person to someone else. Additionally, a person can be liable for repeating a defamatory statement simply by telling someone else the statement that another person made. For example, if Person A made a false and damaging statement about Person B, and then Person C told person D the same statement, Person C could be liable for defamation. In South Dakota, the only defense to defamation is truth: if the statement made about another person is actually true, then it cannot be considered defamation. So, as long as the statement has been proven to be true, a person repeating the statement cannot be liable for defamation. If a person is found to be liable for repeating a defamatory statement, they could be subject to criminal or civil penalties. In South Dakota, a person can be sued for damages resulting from the defamatory statement, and they could potentially be ordered to pay compensation to the harmed individual. Therefore, it is always important to make sure that the statements a person is repeating are true and not damaging to another person.
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