What is defamation?

Defamation is an act of damaging someone’s reputation by untrue or malicious statements. It is illegal in Virginia and can be committed through words or actions. It is illegal because it is wrong to spread false claims about someone, especially when it could harm their reputation. Defamation can be broken into two categories: libel and slander. Libel is when a false statement is written or published and seen by a third party, while slander is when a false statement is spoken and heard by a third party. In Virginia, anyone can be sued for defamation and held liable for the damages caused by their false statements. Someone who commits defamation can be required to pay the other person money, take actions to fix the damage they’ve caused, or sometimes, just apologize. It’s important to remember that speaking the truth is not considered defamation. It’s also important to note that public figures must meet a higher standard of proof than private citizens. That means that public figures must prove that the person who was making the false statement about them knew the statements were false or was acting with recklessness or disregard for the truth. This additional requirement makes it difficult for public figures to win defamation lawsuits.

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What is defamation?

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