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) |