Attorney Steve® - Defamation Essentials - [Liber Per Se] and online civil harassment.
Introduction
Defamation can be libel (written) or slander (oral). The elements of a defamation claim are:
(1) a publication that is
(2) false,
(3) defamatory,
(4) unprivileged,
and
(5) has a natural tendency to injure or causes special damage. (Taus v. Loftus (2007) 40 Cal.4th 683, 720 [54 Cal. Rptr. 3d 775, 151 P.3d 1185].) Civil Code section 45 provides;
“Libel is a false and unprivileged publication by writing, printing, picture, effigy, or other fixed representation to the eye, which exposes any person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him in his occupation.”
There are 4 categories of defamation which are considered LIBEL PER SE (meaning, that damages are presumed).
Libel Per Se
“Statements that contain such a charge directly, and without the need for explanatory matter, are libelous per se. A statement can also be libelous per se if it contains a charge by implication from the language employed by the speaker and a listener could understand the defamatory meaning without the necessity of knowing extrinsic explanatory matter." (McGarry v. University of San Diego (2007) 154 Cal.App.4th 97, 112 [64 Cal. Rptr. 3d 467], italics added (McGarry); see Civ. Code, § 45a.)
Under California law, libel is a false and unprivileged publication by writing which exposes any person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or obloquy, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him in his occupation." (Civ. Code, sec. 45.). See Washer v. Bank of Am. Nat'l Tr. & Sav. Asso., 21 Cal. 2d 822, 827, 136 P.2d 297, 300 (1943). Damages may be recovered for harm to reputation, emotional damages and even punitive damages where the pursuit against him is ongoing, repeated, oppressive and malicious in your attempts to personally humiliate him.
Fact vs. Opinion
‘The sine qua non of recovery for defamation… is the existence of falsehood. Because the statement must contain a provable falsehood, courts distinguish between statements of fact and statements of opinion for purposes of defamation liability. Although statements of fact may be actionable as libel, statements of opinion are constitutionally protected. (McGarry, supra, 154 Cal.App.4th at p. 112.)
That does not mean that statements of opinion enjoy blanket protection. On the contrary, where an expression of opinion implies a false assertion of fact, the opinion can constitute actionable defamation. (Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co. (1990) 497 U.S. 1, 18–19 [111 L. Ed. 2d 1, 110 S. Ct. 2695].) The critical question is not whether a statement is fact or opinion, but “ ‘whether a reasonable fact finder could conclude the published statement declares or implies a provably false assertion of fact.' ” McGarry, supra, 154 Cal.App.4th at p. 113.)
To determine whether a statement is actionable fact or non-actionable opinion, courts use a totality of the circumstances test of whether the statement in question communicates or implies a provably false statement of fact. Under the totality of the circumstances test, ‘[f]irst, the language of the statement is examined. For words to be defamatory, they must be understood in a defamatory sense. Next, the context in which the statement was made must be considered.' (McGarry, supra, 154 Cal.App.4th at p. 113.)
Wong v. Jing, 189 Cal. App. 4th 1354, 1369-70, 117 Cal. Rptr. 3d 747, 761-62 (2010)
PODCAST - LIBEL CRASH COURSE
California Civil Code section §45a. Libel on its face defined; Action for defamation not libelous on its face
A libel which is defamatory of the plaintiff without the necessity of explanatory matter, such as an inducement, innuendo or other extrinsic fact, is said to be a libel on its face. Defamatory language not libelous on its face is not actionable unless the plaintiff alleges and proves that he has suffered special damage as a proximate result thereof. Special damage is defined in Section 48a of this code (see below)
Four classes of Defamation per se
California Civil Code Section 46 (slander)
Slander is a false and unprivileged publication, orally uttered, and also communications by radio or any mechanical or other means which:
1. Charges any person with crime, or with having been indicted, convicted, or punished for crime;
2. Imputes in him the present existence of an infectious, contagious, or loathsome disease;
3. Tends directly to injure him in respect to his office, profession, trade or business, either by imputing to him general disqualification in those respects which the office or other occupation peculiarly requires, or by imputing something with reference to his office, profession, trade, or business that has a natural tendency to lessen its profits;
4. Imputes to him impotence or a want of chastity; or
5. Which, by natural consequence, causes actual damage.
Section 48(a)
Public Figure Plaintiff (actual malice)
Public figure plaintiff must prove actual malice with “convincing clarity” (clear and convincing evidence). New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) 376 U.S. 254, 285–286, 84 S. Ct. 710, 11 L. Ed. 2d 686; McCoy v. Hearst Corp. (1986) 42 Cal. 3d 835, 860, 231 Cal. Rptr. 518, 727 P.2d 711; Gomes v. Fried (1982) 136 Cal. App. 3d 924, 934, 186 Cal. Rptr. 605; see also Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc. (1986) 477 U.S. 242, 244, 254, 106 S. Ct. 2505, 91 L. Ed. 2d 202 (clear and convincing standard must be considered by federal court when ruling on motion for summary judgment under Fed. R. Civ. P., Rule 56)
California Harassment Laws
Some states, like California, prohibit online harassment, for example, someone who repeatedly tries to defame and harass a YouTube star (for example), a person who makes their living by cultivating their wholesome online persona, and wrongdoers who like to post false and malicious things on their YouTube channels, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts, often on a continuous and repeated basis may be subject to an injunction to prevent civil harassment.
California has enacted civil laws that prohibit harassment of another. You would be wise to educate yourself on these laws. For example, see California Civil Code section 527.6 which prohibits harassment.
“Harassment” is unlawful violence, a credible threat of violence, or a knowing and willful course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the person, and that serves no legitimate purpose. Clearly, your intentional and ongoing acts are designed to embarrass and annoy my client and cause him to loose fans and followers.
Under the statute, (which allows for injunctions to prevent ongoing injurious acts,
“course of conduct” is defined as a pattern of conduct composed of a series of acts over a period of time, however short, evidencing a continuity of purpose, including following or stalking an individual, making harassing telephone calls to an individual, or sending harassing correspondence to an individual by any means, including, but not limited to, the use of public or private mails, interoffice mail, facsimile, or email. Cal Code Civ Proc § 527.6.
Conclusion
Proving defamation can be a very tricky issue. People have a right to speak their minds and express their opinions. However, the first amendment is NOT ABSOLUTE and false and defamatory language against a person or individual can land a Defendant in Court. Plaintiff's, however, need to be aware of any Anti-SLAPP laws that apply because if you file a lawsuit that unduly impinges the free speech rights of another, a overly aggressive Plaintiff could wind up paying the other's legal fees if the Defendant prevails on their anti-SLAPP motion. Online harassment laws (ex. cyberstalking) can also come into effect and can show "actual malice" in a case (which a public figure needs to show to prevail). Having the ability to prove a statement false, and to show damages can often be a hurdle to recovering which many times Defamation is known as "the tort of the rich and famous."
If you believe you have a case, contact us to discuss at (877) 276-5084 or email us through our contact form.
