Defamation: Elements

Defamation requires defamatory statement of fact about plaintiff, publication, and reputational harm.

Representative cases

• Kathleen Waugh v. Genesis Healthcare LLC 2019 ME 179 · Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Delanna Garey v. Stanford Management, LLC 2024 ME 46 · Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
• Simpson v. Andrew L. Capdeville, P.C. 64 V.I. 477 · Supreme Court of The Virgin Islands

Related Defamation & Privacy rules

• Defamation: Public FiguresPublic figures must prove actual malice—knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard.
• Defamation: Private FiguresPrivate plaintiffs must prove negligence on matters of public concern.
• Privileges: AbsoluteAbsolute privilege applies to judicial, legislative, and some executive proceedings.
• Privileges: QualifiedQualified privilege applies to statements made for proper purpose unless abused.
• Invasion of Privacy: AppropriationAppropriation is unauthorized commercial use of plaintiff’s name or likeness.
• Invasion of Privacy: IntrusionIntrusion is intentional invasion of plaintiff’s private affairs that is highly offensive.
• Invasion of Privacy: Public DisclosurePublic disclosure of private facts is tortious when highly offensive and not of legitimate public concern.
• Invasion of Privacy: False LightFalse light involves publicity placing plaintiff in misleading, highly offensive portrayal.

Part of Torts on Core Legal Rules — foundational MBE-tested principles with primary-source citations.