A form of publication which tends to cause one to lose the esteem of the community is defamation. This is injury to reputation. A person can be held liable for the defamation of another. In order to prove defamation, the plaintiff must prove:
- that a statement was made about the plaintiff's reputation, honesty or integrity that is not true;
- publication to a third party (i.e., another person hears or reads the statement); and
- the plaintiff suffers damages as a result of the statement.
Slander is a form of defamation that consists of making false oral statements about a person which would damage that person's reputation. If one spreads a rumor that his neighbor has been in jail and this is not true, the person making such false statements could be held liable for slander.
Defamation which occurs by written statements is known as libel. Libel also may result from a picture or visual representation. Truth is an absolute defense to slander or libel.
Some statements, while libelous or slanderous, are absolutely privileged in the sense that the statements can be made without fear of a lawsuit for slander. The best example is statements made in a court of law. An untrue statement made about a person in court which damages that person's reputation will generally not cause liability to the speaker as far as slander is concerned. However, if the statement is untrue, the person making it may be liable for criminal perjury.
If a communication is made in good faith on a subject in which the party communicating it has a legitimate right or interest in communicating it, this communication may be exempt from slander liability due to a qualified privileged.
The following form letter demands that someone cease making libelous or slanderous statements, or appropriate legal action will be taken.
Slander And Libel Act In Chicago
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Chicago
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US-00423BG
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FAQ
In Hardiman v. Aslam, 2019 IL App (1st) 173196, the court stated: “to prove defamation, a plaintiff must show that the defendant made a false statement about the plaintiff, there was an unprivileged publication to a third party by the defendant, and the statement damaged the plaintiff.” ¶4.
Elements of Defamation The defendant made the defamatory statement to a third party knowing it was false (or they should have known it was false); The defamatory statement was disseminated through a publication or communication; and. The plaintiff's reputation suffered damage or harm.
Address It Directly: If appropriate, consider confronting the person spreading the slander. Approach them calmly and express how their words have affected you. Sometimes, a direct conversation can resolve misunderstandings. Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or colleagues about the situation.
Document the Defamation: Keep records of the defamatory statement, including dates, times, and the context in which the statements were made. Confirm the Falsity of the Statement: Gather evidence that clearly demonstrates the statement's inaccuracy.
To prove slander in a legal sense, you must establish that the specific person said something about you that 1) was knowingly false and 2) caused you harm (``harm'' may include pain and suffering, damage to your reputation, or loss of wages or employment).
What Are Some Examples of Slander? Untrue statements that a person was convicted of a crime or that they committed or attempted to commit a crime. Untrue statements alleging that a person committed perjury or otherwise lied under oath. Untrue statements that a person is having an affair.
A person who wishes to take legal action for defamation must be able to prove that they have suffered, or could suffer, 'serious harm'. If a corporation is suing for defamation, it needs to prove that it has suffered 'serious financial loss' as a result of the publication of the allegedly defamatory matter.
The statute of limitations for defamation in Illinois is one (1) year. 735 ILCS 5/13-201. It states: Defamation – Privacy.
Slander per se is the spoken word version of libel per se—a false statement that is so obviously harmful that damage to a plaintiff's reputation is presumed. Examples of slander per se include false accusations of improper sexual conduct, criminal activity, or bad business dealings.
The statute of limitations for defamation in Illinois is one (1) year. 735 ILCS 5/13-201. It states: Defamation – Privacy.
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Defamation, Libel, Slander, and Cybersmearing - Chicago Business Lawyer. Contact us today online or at to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case with a defamation lawyer in the Chicago area.The attorneys at Lubin Austermuehle DiTommaso have over thirty years of experience defending and prosecuting defamation, slander libel and cyber smear lawsuits. Leveling the Playing Field for Employees. Fill out the contact form or call us at or to schedule your consultation. Our Chicago libel and slander lawyers concentrate in this area of the law. Under Illinois law, you may have a claim for defamation if you can prove that someone made a false statement about you.
