Can a person be sued for defamation if the statement was made in a private conversation?

In North Carolina, a person can be sued for defamation if the statement was made in a private conversation. This is because North Carolina laws recognize that a person can be damaged by false statements even if they are heard by only one other person. Defamation is defined as any intentional false statement of fact made to another person or group of people causing damage to the person’s reputation or good name. The statement must be false, malicious, and cause harm or damage to the person’s reputation. Generally speaking, if the statement was made in a private conversation, the fact that it was conveyed to only one other person is often not enough to prevent the speaker from being held accountable. The law in North Carolina considers a defamatory statement to be private if it was spoken between two people in a private conversation and was not intended to be repeated to others. Even if the statement is not widely disseminated, it may still be possible for the person to be held liable for defamation if the statement was made with malicious intent and damages the other person’s reputation. In short, anyone who makes a false and malicious statement in a private conversation can be held liable for defamation. It is important to be careful with the words you say, whether they are spoken in a public or private setting.

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Can a person be sued for defamation if the statement was made in a private conversation?

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