Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Defamatory libel is a statement that harms someone's reputation and is expressed in a fixed medium, such as writing, pictures, signs, or electronic broadcasts. It is both a crime and a tort, but it is no longer prosecuted as a crime. The act of making such a statement is called libel.
For example, if someone writes an article accusing a politician of corruption without any evidence, it could be considered defamatory libel because it harms the politician's reputation and is expressed in writing.
There are different types of libel, such as:
It's important to note that freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment, but it does not protect defamatory statements. If someone is harmed by a defamatory statement, they can sue for damages.