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- Dictionarylibel/ˈlʌɪbl/
noun
- 1. a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; a written defamation: "he was found guilty of a libel on a Liverpool inspector of taxes"
- 2. (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) a plaintiff's written declaration.
verb
- 1. defame (someone) by publishing a libel: "the jury found that he was libelled by a newspaper"
- 2. (in admiralty and ecclesiastical law) bring a suit against: "if a ship does you any injury you libel the ship"
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Learn the definitions, defences and legal implications of defamation, libel and slander in the UK. Find out how to avoid or respond to defamatory statements and claims against HSE.
- What Is Defamation?
- What Is Libel?
- What Is Slander?
- Suing For Defamation of Character
- Who Do You Claim Against?
- Is There A Time Limit to Bringing A Claim For Defamation?
- What Are The Defences Against Defamation?
- What Are The Remedies For A Claim of Defamation?
The law on defamation is governed by the Defamation Act 2013, along with supporting legislation and a substantial body of case law. Defamation is where a statement is made, either orally or in writing, to a third party, in such a way as to damage, or be likely to damage, the reputation of the subject of the comment. To be defamatory, the statement ...
Libel is a defamatory statement that is permanent in nature. Libellous statements include written form, such as printed publications or emails, as well as statements made on TV, film or video. Text messages and comments or statements posted on social media would be classed as libel.
Slandercovers defamatory statements that are temporary in nature. These are generally conveyed by speech, but may also include gestures or conduct. The transient nature of the spoken word can make slander more difficult to establish than libel since evidence will be required to show the defamatory statement had been made.
Whether the subject of the defamatory comment is an individual, a group of individuals or a company, the impact of defamation can be devastating in financial, emotional and reputational terms. Likewise, an accusation of making a defamatory statement can have extensive repercussions on the person accused. A claim for defamation will require the vict...
Any individual, businessor other legal body involved in publishing the defamatory material can be sued. This could include the actual author or person who made the statement, the editor or publishing company. In some cases, ‘distributors’ of defamatory material can also be sued, including website owners and ISPs, although the operators of websites ...
A claim for defamation has to be brought within one year of the date of the defamatory statement being made. Victims of defamation therefore have to act quickly if they wish to pursue a claim. Making a claim near to the time limit is generally looked upon unfavourably by the court as parties are expected to endeavour to resolve the issue before it ...
A number of defences could be available to a claim for defamation. There may be process issues, for example, as all claims for defamation must be made within one year of the statement being made, if the year has lapsed, then the court may see fit to deny the claim. Other defences look at the nature of the claim itself:
Compensation
Where a claimant wins their claim for defamation, they would usually be awarded damages. The level of compensation will be determined by the court against a number of factors including the severity of the defamation and the degree of harm caused by the defamatory statement. The court will take into consideration the victim’s feelings, the seriousness of the defamation, and the reach and form of the publication. Mitigating factors will also be considered when assessing the level of damages to...
Injunctions
The court can order for the removal of the defamatory statement. An injunction can prevent any further publication of the defamatory statement, provided the claimant can prove the statement was made with malicious intent.
Apology
For some parties, an apology from the defendant will be a critical outcome. As such, settlements usually include the defendant agreeing to publish an apology as well as paying compensation. The court however cannot order a defendant to apologise or to retract their statement, although it can compel the defendant to publish a summary of the judgement in favour of the claimant. Vindication for the claimant is usually deemed to be achieved through the award of compensation.
People also ask
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LIBEL definition: 1. a piece of writing that contains bad and false things about a person: 2. to write and publish…. Learn more.
Learn the meaning, synonyms, examples, and history of the word libel, which can be a noun or a verb. Libel is a written or oral defamatory statement or representation that conveys an unjustly unfavorable impression or exposes someone to public contempt.
Jul 19, 2021 · Libel is a form of defamation that is permanent. An example of libel is an untrue tweet about someone being against LGBT rights. Slander. Unlike libel, slander is a temporary form of defamation. An example of slander is spreading a rumour around the workplace.
Dec 19, 2015 · Learn what libel is, how it differs from slander, and how to prove it in court. Find out the remedies, defenses, and exceptions for libel in the U.S. legal system.
May 17, 2024 · Libel is a form of defamation. Here, defamation is where a statement is published to one or more third parties about a person or a business, and it: causes severe harm to the person or business reputation; or. is likely to cause such harm. Libel is a permanent type of defamation. Therefore, it must be in some kind of lasting form.
