What is the difference between public and private figures in a defamation claim?

In Idaho, when it comes to defamation claims, there is a difference between public and private figures. Public figures are individuals who are well-known, often because of their involvement in politics, government, business, entertainment, or other public activities. Private figures are those who do not lead public lives and do not generally directly engage in public activities. When a public figure files a defamation claim in Idaho, they must prove that the statement made about them was made with actual malice. This means they must prove that the person making the statement was aware that it was false or recklessly disregarded the truthfulness of the statement. On the other hand, a private figure only needs to prove that a false statement was made in order to win a defamation claim in Idaho. A private figure does not need to demonstrate that the statement was made with actual malice. Therefore, if a statement is made about a public figure which is false, they must prove that it was knowingly made with malice, while for a private figure, they only must demonstrate that the statement was false for a successful defamation claim.

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What is the difference between public and private figures in a defamation claim?

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