Furthermore, legal action requires proving actual damage, except in cases of slander per se —statements so inherently harmful (e.g., falsely accusing someone of a crime, infectious disease, or professional incompetence) that damage is assumed. The Digital Age: When Spoken Becomes Permanent
"It's only slander if it's false," say legal analysts, noting that malicious rumors are often confused with protected, albeit unkind, opinions. An opinion, no matter how nasty, is generally not actionable. Slander must misrepresent facts. slander
Slander and Defamation of Character: A 101 - Bochetto & Lentz legal action requires proving actual damage