Does a person have to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel?

In Colorado, a person must prove both that defamatory statements were written or said and that harm has resulted from the statement in order to sue for libel. The law in Colorado does not require a person to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel, meaning that if the defendant made a false statement and it could potentially harm the plaintiff’s reputation, the plaintiff can sue for libel. When filing a libel lawsuit in Colorado, the plaintiff must be able to prove that the statement was defamatory, meaning it was false and it caused harm to the plaintiff’s reputation. Colorado requires the plaintiff to show what the false statement was, that it was published or said to a third party, and that it caused harm to the plaintiff’s reputation. If the plaintiff can prove these criteria, then the plaintiff may have a valid case for libel. The plaintiff does not have to show actual harm to their reputation; rather, the plaintiff needs to show that there is a strong possibility that the statement could be damaging to the plaintiff’s reputation. For example, if the defendant wrote a false statement that the plaintiff was involved in a criminal activity, the plaintiff may be able to sue for libel without having to prove actual harm to their reputation. Therefore, in Colorado, it is not necessary for a person to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel. The plaintiff must be able to show that the defamatory statement was made and that it could possibly harm the plaintiff’s reputation, regardless if there was actual harm or not.

Does a person have to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel?

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