What is the difference between libel and slander in terms of damages?

The main difference between libel and slander in terms of damages is the severity of the harm inflicted. Libel is a written or published false statement that harms someone’s reputation. Examples of libel may include a false statement written in a magazine article or on a website. Libel can cause serious damages to a person’s reputation, and the law allows victims to sue for actual monetary damages as well as punitive damages. Slander is a spoken false statement that harms someone’s reputation. For example, if someone makes a false statement about another person to someone else, this could be considered slander. In Virginia, the law allows victims to sue for actual damages that can be proven, such as lost wages due to a damaged reputation. However, this type of harm is much more difficult to prove and, for this reason, punitive damages are not available for slander claims. In summary, libel is written or published false statements that can cause serious harm to a person’s reputation, while slander is spoken false statements that can cause harm but are much more difficult to prove. While victims of libel can sue for both actual and punitive damages in Virginia, victims of slander can only sue for actual damages.

Related FAQs

What defenses are available to those charged with defamation?
Is a person allowed to use parody as a defense in a defamation lawsuit?
Is a person allowed to use the defense of privilege in a defamation claim?
Does a publisher or website have liability for third-party comments posted to its site?
How do you calculate damages in a defamation case?
Is there a limit to the amount of punitive damages a person can receive in a defamation suit?
If a statement is true, is it still considered defamatory?
What is the difference between defamation per se and defamation per quod?
Does a website have an obligation to remove defamatory content?
What is the statute of limitations for defamation claims?

What is the difference between libel and slander in terms of damages?

Related FAQs

Related Blog Posts