Libel Quiz

Incorrect. Anyone is able to sue for false and defamatory statements made about them. The difference between celebrities and politicians and your average Joe is in the standard they have to meet to prove libel.

Correct! Libel laws offer protection to everyone from false and defamatory statements. The standards are different for private persons, limited-purpose public figures, and all-purpose public figures.

Correct! She is so famous that she is basically a household name.

Incorrect. The actions of a local television news anchor would not be important to people outside that community.

Correct! As a professional athlete who has been to the Superbowl numerous times, Tom Brady’s actions would be newsworthy.

Incorrect. Unless your friend is in a position of power and influence over the public, your best friend is a private figure.

Incorrect. Greta would be a limited-purpose public figure. She was a private person who entered the spotlight while protesting a matter of public concern.

Incorrect. This is a required element.

Incorrect. The published statement must be about the person suing for libel.

Incorrect. The published statement must be false, and it must harm the person the statement was made about.

Correct! This is NOT a requirement of libel.

Incorrect. This is a requirement for libel.

Incorrect. Websites like these are passive publishers and generally not responsible for the statements of the users.

Correct! The Communications Decency Act, which is a federal law, protects websites that are passive publishers of content. But note, if the website is made aware of the libelous comment and does nothing about it, the website can be held liable for the libelous statement.

Correct! This is known as being “libel proof.” This occurs when someone is so infamous (famous for bad reasons) that almost everyone is expected to say something negative about them.

Incorrect. When the public as a whole has such a negative opinion of a person, that person cannot bring a libel lawsuit because a negative comment about them would not harm their reputation.

Incorrect. Even if the person who published the statement was joking, the statement could still be libelous.

Correct. If the published statement is someone’s opinion and not based on facts, the statement is not libelous.

Correct. Truth is an absolute defense. Remember, the statement being false is a required element.

Correct. A statement that would be understood as an obvious exaggeration is less likely to be considered libelous.

Incorrect. This would be helpful to prove damages.

Incorrect. The interference with social contacts would help prove damages for a libelous statement.

Correct! The loss of followers on social media is not likely to prove damages for a private figure’s libel lawsuit. This would, however, work if the person is an “influencer,” but that person would not be a private figure.

Incorrect. The loss of a job based on a libelous statement would serve as proof of damages.

Incorrect. False and defamatory statements that are spoken would be slander.

Correct! A required element of libel is publication to at least one other person. Libel is for false and defamatory written statements.

Correct! As a society, we value the importance of spreading news and information quickly.

Incorrect. Journalists and the media function as a way to get information out to the public, so they receive more protection against libel lawsuits.

Incorrect. Knowing that damages might occur is not an element.

Correct! This is called “actual malice.” It occurs when the media had knowledge that the statement was false or when the media showed a reckless disregard for the truth by not investigating to verify the statement.

Incorrect. It does not matter whether the journalist likes or dislikes the person who is the subject of the statement.