How do you prove damages in a defamation case?

Proving damages in a defamation case in New Hampshire involves filing a lawsuit in court and providing evidence that proves the defamatory statement has caused the plaintiff to suffer harm. Generally, the harm must be both monetary and reputational. Monetary damages refer to the damages that the plaintiff has suffered in monetary terms, such as lost wages, medical expenses, or loss of business income. In order to prove these losses, the plaintiff will need to provide evidence of the amount of income lost, the cost of medical care, or other monetary damages that they have incurred as a result of the defamatory statement. Reputational damages, or the harm done to the plaintiff’s reputation, can be harder to prove in a court of law. The plaintiff will need to provide evidence of how they have been negatively impacted because of the defamatory statement, such as lost opportunities, diminished social standing, or public humiliation. An example of this could be if the plaintiff lost a job or received negative feedback from colleagues or the public because of the negative statement. The damages claimed by the plaintiff must be supported by sufficient evidence. Witnesses and documents can be used to supplement the plaintiff’s claim in order to make the case stronger and more convincing. Ultimately, if the plaintiff can prove that the defamatory statement caused them harm, a judge will likely award them damages.

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