Are statements of opinion considered defamatory?

When it comes to defamation law in North Carolina, statements of opinion are not considered defamatory. This is because opinions are subjective and not objectively verifiable. Generally speaking, opinions are protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That being said, if an opinion is expressed with malice and is presented as a fact, it could be considered defamatory. For example, if someone makes a statement like, “I think John is a thief,” that’s an opinion and not considered libel or slander. If, however, the statement was changed to, “John is a proven thief,” that statement is presented as a fact and could be considered libel or slander. It’s important to remember that opinions are your own and should be expressed with caution. If you make a statement that is false and presented as a fact, it could potentially be considered defamatory. Therefore, it would be wise to refrain from making statements about other people that you can’t objectively back up.

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Are statements of opinion considered defamatory?

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