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Yes. A criminal history does not a prevent a person from filing a law suit.
Yes, if it was in writing, defamatory, and untrue. If it is verbal, it is slander.
Libel is a civil issue. We tend to reserve the terms "legal" and "illegal" for criminal actions. In civil law, we use the term "liable". In other words, if someone is guilty of a libelous action, they are subject to liability for any damages resulting from the libel. You can file a civil suit for libel but make sure you can meet your burden of proof, and make sure you can prove your damages. Being angry over libel is not, alone, enough to take it to court.
Depending on the context, you may be able to make out a civil suit for libel or slander.
Yes, they can be sued, but the suit will not be successful. (In the US, anyone can sue anyone for anything at any time. The question is not whether they can sue, but whether they can win. The type of lawsuit you are asking about is a libel or slander suit (oral or written). In order to prove this kind of suit, the plaintiff (here the celebrity) must assert that the defendant said something that is false about the plaintiff, and that the allegations led to damages for the plaintiff. Further, public figures, such as celebrities and politicians must also prove that the allegations were made with malice. A celebrity would not be able to prove that they suffered actual damages from being called ugly. However, there are successful libel/slander lawsuits. For example, if I told your employer that I caught you in bed with my 5 year old daughter, they believed it, and fired you as a result, you would be able to win this type of lawsuit.
It depends on the individual and the course of action they decide upon. I know of a current NFL star who has filed identity theft suits through his legal team. My company has developed an authentication technique for public figures in these forums that we'll be launching this summer. The important thing to remember is that it is a form of identity theft, with defamation of character and libel suit potential, and can be taken seriously-and that Ip addresses reveal the source of origin.
John Peter Zenger was famous for being involved in a libel suit that established Freedom of the Press. He was a newspaper printer and a journalist.
Damage done to a person through writing is called libel. Slander is spoken defamation. Both libel and slander are types of defamation, and generally four or more people besides the victim would be witnesses for it to meet the legal definition. Plus one would have to prove harm. Of course, there are relaxed standards when public figures are involved. Just calling a politician a crook or a liar may not be enough to be considered defamation, since maliciousness would be required. So another politician or member of the press would be more likely to get hit by such a suit as opposed to a regular person who stands nothing to gain from any attempt at defamation.
That would be 3 years in Michigan. It is only 1 year for libel and slander cases. Consult a Michigan attorney for your specifics.
12, 3 face cards, 1 each suit.
Stearns Weaver Miller in Downtown Miami, They may be co-counsel. Good luck. www.swmwas.com
No. Defamation, slander and libel involve use of a false statement. Truth is an absolute defense in a defamation suit.