Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Excess of privilege refers to when someone shares too much information that they are allowed to share. This is called a "privileged statement" and it means that the person has a special right to share certain information. However, if they share too much or go beyond what they are allowed to share, it is called an excess of privilege.
Definition: Excess of privilege refers to the act of publishing a privileged statement beyond the limits of the privilege.
Example: A journalist publishes a statement about a public figure that is protected by the First Amendment's freedom of the press. However, the journalist goes too far and publishes personal information that is not relevant to the story, such as the public figure's medical history or family issues. This is an example of excess of privilege.
Explanation: The journalist had the privilege to publish the statement under the First Amendment's freedom of the press. However, the journalist exceeded the limits of the privilege by including personal information that was not relevant to the story. This is considered an abuse of the privilege and can result in legal consequences.