Question

If a plaintiff in an action for defamation is a public figure/official, what, in addition to showing the defendant made a false statement about the plaintiff that damaged them, must the plaintiff show? a-Intentional Conduct b-Negligence in making the statement c-that people knew the statement was concerning the plaintiff d-the statement was made with knowing falsity and/or reckless disregard for the truth

only one confect answer

Answer 1

Answer: Option (d) the statement was made with knowing falsity and/or reckless disregard for the truth

Explination : In The New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964), the Supreme Court held that for a publicly-known figure to succeed on a defamation claims, the public-figure plaintiff must show that the false, defaming statements was said with "actual malice." The Sullivan court stated that"actual malice" means that the defendant said the defamatory statement "with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not."