When “Opinions” Are Defamatory
Everyone has opinions. In some cases, having an opinion is even protected by law. However, there can be a fine line between opinion and defamation which can lead to legal wrangling between parties. This is particularly common when people provide their opinion about a business or a person and do so in a way that crosses the line from opinion to defamation.
Elements of a Defamation Case
Defamation is a legal term that includes a statement(s) that hurts someone’s reputation. A written statement is considered “libel”, and a spoken statement is “slander.” Both individuals and companies may have a claim for defamation if the message contained the following elements: