What are the basic laws of defamation?

What are the basic laws of defamation?

Michael Ehline (Attorney at Law) gives expert video advice on: What is a tort of defamation?; What is 'libel'?; What is 'slander'? and more...

The basic laws of defamation are a false or defamatory statement about a plaintiff that is going to cause harm or ridicule to that plaintiff's reputation, and it has to be published to a third party, not just the plaintiff. Telling someone to their face, "You're a jerk" if you're not, it might just be deemed an insult. Or even telling the public that you're a jerk might be deemed an insult. But telling the public that you had sex with your mother is an example when it's not true would definitely hold you out to ridicule in modern society and the law would imply a remedy.