Defamation of character

'Defamation of character' is the term used to describe the act of making false statements or information about a living person designed to harm that person's reputation. There are two types of defamation of character: slander and libel. Slander occurs when the misinformation is spoken, while libel involves misinformation that's written or broadcast. If you're the victim of slander or libel, you can sue the perpetrator in civil court. In order to win your case, you have to establish that the information concerning you is false and that the act of slander or libel has damaged you in some manner. If the slander or libel is particularly serious, for example if someone spreads a rumor that you have a criminal record or that you're a drug dealer, the court generally doesn't require you to prove that damage has been done, because the law recognizes that such accusations are harmful in themselves. You can sue a person for libel or slander for estimated actual damages, for pain and suffering caused by the defamation, and for punitive damages. In practice, public persons, such as politicians or well-known media personalities, generally don't enjoy the same degree of protection from slander and libel as private individuals. However, there have been cases in which celebrities have succeeded in libel lawsuits against newspaper or magazine publishers guilty of spreading false information.