Libel, Slander and Defamation

Defamation, sometimes called "defamation of character", is spoken or written words that falsely and negatively reflect on a living person's reputation. If a person or the news media says or writes something about you that is understood to lower your reputation, or that keeps people from associating with you, defamation has occurred. Slander is spoken defamation and libel is written defamation. If you have been defamed you may seek both actual damages.