Sunteți pe pagina 1din 5

DEFAMATON

I. Definition

A. That which tends to:

1. Injure "reputation"

2. Diminish the esteem, respect, goodwiII or confidence in which
the pIaintiff is heId

3. Excite adverse, derogatory or unpIeasant feeIings or opinions
against him

B. NecessariIy invoIves the idea of disgrace

C. 2nd restatement of torts

1. To harm the reputation of another

u) As to lower him in the estimution oI the commonity

-) %o deter third persons Irom ussociuting or deuling with him

II. Requisites (MVRS) - PIaintiff's burden

A. PubIication



B. Of a Defamatory materiaI

1. P&K: They must be understood in a defamatory sense;
Defamatory meaning must be conveyed

2. What if it carries a defamatory meaning onIy by reason of
extrinsic circumstances?

u) Indocement

(1) I deIumuLory meunIng urIses onIy Irom IucLs noL uppurenL upon LIe Iuce oI
pubIIcuLIon LIe pIuInLIII Ius LIe burden oI pIeudIng & provIng sucI IucLs

-) Innoendo

(1) DeIumuLory sense oI pubIIcuLIon In reIuLIon Lo sucI IucLs

C. Which sufficientIy points to the pIaintiff

1. If no reference to individuaI pIaintiff

u) Colloqoim - %hut the deIumutory meuning uttuched to him

III. Defenses of Defendant

A. PubIication



B. Of a Defamatory materiaI

1. Words were not understood at aII

2. Taken entireIy in jest

3. Some meaning other than the obvious one was attached by aII
who heard or read

C. Which sufficientIy points to the pIaintiff

1. Does not sufficientIy point to defendant

IV. Who May be Defamed

A. GeneraI: Any Iiving person may be defamed.

1. CiviI action is personaI to the pIaintiff

B. Organization

1. If attack is made upon its prestige and standing in the business
in which it is engaged (Prosser & Keeton)

C. NOT



1. Large group or cIass of persons

u) A generul condemnution coold not reusonu-ly -e regurded us
reIerring to euch individoul or uny purticolur individoul within the
groop

2. Considerations which may Iead to an exception

u) Size oI u cluss[Nutore or generulity oI the churge

V. Court's roIe

A. To determine whether the words are reasonabIy capabIe of a
particuIar interpretation or whether they are necessariIy so;

S-ar putea să vă placă și