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

In North Carolina, a person generally does not have to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel. This is because North Carolina libel law is based on a strict liability standard. This means that it is not necessary to prove that the person suffered any damage or harm in order for the person to sue for libel. In other words, even if the person did not suffer any actual harm, they can still sue for libel if the defendant falsely published something about the person that caused them to be subject to public hatred, shame, or contempt. In other words, the plaintiff need not prove actual harm or damages in order for a libel claim to be successful. In North Carolina, libel is defined as a false and malicious statement that tends to injure a person’s reputation and expose them to public scorn, hatred, ridicule, or contempt. This is true even if the statement is not intended to cause harm or is not actually false. North Carolina is also a single publication state, meaning that all claims based on a single publication of a statement are subject to a one-year statute of limitations. In short, a person in North Carolina does not generally have to prove actual harm in order to sue for libel, although the burden of proof may be greater for certain types of claims. Generally speaking, if the defendant makes a false statement that tends to injure the person’s reputation and expose them to public scorn, hatred, ridicule, or contempt, a libel claim may be successful.

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

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