Defamation: Private Figures

Private plaintiffs must prove negligence on matters of public concern.

Representative cases

• Lansdowne v. Beacon Journal Publishing Co. 32 Ohio St. 3d 176 · Ohio Supreme Court
• Ferguson v. Union City Daily Messenger, Inc. 845 S.W.2d 162 · Tennessee Supreme Court
• Rowland v. Union Hills Country Club 757 P.2d 105 · Court of Appeals of Arizona

Related Defamation & Privacy rules

• Defamation: ElementsDefamation requires defamatory statement of fact about plaintiff, publication, and reputational harm.
• Defamation: Public FiguresPublic figures must prove actual malice—knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard.
• 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.