What is considered a “public harm” that can give rise to a defamation claim?

In Oklahoma, there are certain harms that can give rise to a defamation claim. Generally, a “public harm” is one that affects the public, as opposed to just a single individual. Specifically, this may include harm to a person’s reputation, their relationships with other people or organizations, their businesses or trade, and their financial interests. Additionally, public harm could be caused by damaging a group’s collective reputation. When a person or organization experiences these types of public harms due to another’s false or defamatory statements, they may have a claim for defamation. This means that the statement would have to cause harm to some form of reputation—private or public—in order for them to have a claim. For example, if a newspaper falsely reports that a local business owner is corrupt, that could lead to harm to that person’s reputation, business, and financial interests. This would constitute a public harm, and the business owner could bring a defamation claim against the newspaper. In Oklahoma, a public harm is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. A person or organization that suspects that their reputation has been damaged by a false or defamatory statement should consider consulting a lawyer to discuss their legal options.

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What is considered a “public harm” that can give rise to a defamation claim?

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