defamation

A false statement of fact communicated to a third party that damages a person’s reputation. Spoken defamation is slander; written or published defamation is libel. Under the standard established by the Supreme Court in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964), public figures, such as politicians and election workers thrust into public controversy, must also prove “actual malice,” meaning the speaker knew the statement was false or acted with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity. Defamation suits brought by Dominion Voting Systems, Smartmatic, E. Jean Carroll, and Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss produced some of the largest defamation judgments in U.S. history.