Slander law

What is slander law?

Slander law is the legal framework which deals with a subsection of defamation law. Defamation is a tort law which aims to protect the reputation of individuals, companies or products. It does so by permitting a party whose reputation has been damaged by published untrue statements to bring a tortious claim against the publisher or publishers of the statement.

Slander law compared to libel law

Defamation is normally divided into libel and slander. The distinction lies in the temporal value of the statement. Temporary statements are said to be slander, whilst permanent statements are libel. The exact duration which amounts to a temporary label (and slander law treatment) is not absolute, although it is commonly regarded that verbal comments are slander as long as they are not broadcast, and nearly all other forms of communication, including email, text messages etc. would be classified as libel.

The slander law, in actuality, is very similar to that of libel. A defamatory statement that is repeated by a party is likely to give rise to further liability regardless of whether the repetition is classed as slander or libel. As opposed to its portrayal in popular culture, phrasing a defamatory statement in conjunction with the word ‘allegedly’ does not absolve the publisher from any liability.

Getting legal advice

If you are accused of defamation it is advisable to seek professional assistance. Slander law is extremely complex and expensive, which means that the person bringing the claim is likely to have a strong case and/or many resources at their disposal.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on slander law, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local defamation solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local defamation solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.

Last Updated on 02/03/2010