Legal Definitions - injurious words

In Louisiana law, injurious words refer to language, whether spoken or written, that is false and harms another person's reputation, character, or standing in the community. This concept encompasses both slander (spoken defamation) and libel (written or published defamation).

Essentially, when someone uses "injurious words," they are making false statements about an individual or entity that cause damage, such as financial loss, public ridicule, or professional discredit.

• Example 1 (Professional Slander):

  During a live television interview, a political candidate falsely claims that their opponent, a respected local doctor, has had their medical license revoked due to malpractice, when in fact the doctor has a spotless record. These spoken statements are untrue and are designed to damage the doctor's professional reputation and public trust.

  How it illustrates the term: This is an example of "injurious words" because the statements are spoken (slander), they are false, and they directly harm the doctor's professional standing and could lead to a loss of patients and income.

• Example 2 (Business Libel):

  A competitor publishes an article in a local newspaper falsely alleging that a new construction company uses dangerously defective materials in all its projects, despite the company adhering to all safety and quality standards. The article includes fabricated quotes from supposed "former employees."

  How it illustrates the term: This constitutes "injurious words" because the statements are written and published (libel), they are untrue, and they are likely to damage the construction company's business reputation, deter potential clients, and cause significant financial harm.

• Example 3 (Personal Slander):

  At a community event, one neighbor loudly tells several others that another neighbor, a volunteer at a local charity, has been secretly embezzling funds from the organization, without any evidence or truth to the claim.

  How it illustrates the term: This is an instance of "injurious words" because the statements are spoken (slander), they are false, and they damage the individual's personal reputation within their community, potentially leading to social ostracization and mistrust, and harming their ability to volunteer.