Plaintiffs' Burdens in Defamation Cases

Plaintiff

Liability for
Actual Damages
Liability for
Punitive Damages

Case


Public Official or
Public Figures

"Actual Malice"
(knowlege of falsity or reckless disregard for falsity)

"Actual Malice"
(knowlege of falsity or reckless disregard for falsity)
N. Y. Times
 v Sullivan (1964)
(public officials)
Curtis v Butts (1967)
(public figures)
Private Figures
or Companies
(matters of public concern)

At Least
Negligence

"Actual Malice"
(knowlege of falsity or reckless disregard for falsity)

Gertz v Robert Welch
(1974)
Private Figures
or Companies
(matters NOT of public concern)

At Least
Negligence

At Least
Negligence

Dun & Bradstreet
v Greenmoss (1985)

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