Are threats considered defamation?

In Texas, threats are not considered defamation. Defamation is the act of making a false statement about someone that damages their reputation. This statement must be communicated to someone other than the person it’s about in order for it to be considered defamation. Threats, on the other hand, are when someone verbally or in writing expresses an intention to harm someone else, either physically or psychologically. This includes making statements like “I’m going to hurt you” or “I’m going to ruin your reputation.” In order to be considered defamation, the false statement must also be made with “actual malice” meaning it must be done with the intention of harming the person. With threats, the intention is not to harm the person’s reputation but to cause physical or mental distress. Because of this, threats are not considered defamation in Texas.

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Are threats considered defamation?

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