Defamation Legal Resource Round-up
Your patrons may have asked you questions about defamation, libel, or slander. But what do these terms mean?
Defamation is communication about a person that hurts their reputation. Defamation can be written (this is called libel) or spoken (this is called slander). If someone is experiencing defamation, they have options to address it, which can include suing and receiving monetary damages for the harm done to their reputation.
People’s Law School has a number of pages about defamation to get you started:
- This page provides a good orientation to the law of defamation, including what it is, what kinds of communication are considered defamatory, what’s involved in suing and damages that may be awarded, what to do if someone accuses you of defamation, and the effect of an apology in defamation suits.
If you’ve been accused of defamation and Defamation: If someone hurts your reputation
- These two pages provides step by step guides to dealing with a claim of defamation for both sides of the issue. This includes important elements to making a legal claim of defamation, defences that may be used by someone accused of defamation, and starting a lawsuit.
Related resources from People’s Law School:
When dealing with defamation, people may decide to pursue legal action. Defamation lawsuits must be brought in the BC Supreme Court within two years of the defamatory statements being made or published. The Supreme Court may award damages (money) for loss of reputation; the amount will depend on factors like the person’s position in the community, the nature of the defamatory statement, and whether an apology was issued.
If your patron needs information about going to the BC Supreme Court, a great place to start is the Supreme Court BC Online Help Guide. This guide walks people all the way through filing a legal matter at the BC Supreme Court, from getting started, through the trial or hearing, and after the trial. It includes information about what court forms are needed for each step and provides tips on how to complete commonly used forms.
Another resource to check out is The CanLII Manual to British Columbia Civil Litigation. This resource has a large section that guides people through filing a lawsuit at the BC Supreme Court. It answers commonly asked questions and provides guidance for those filling out important court forms.
If your patrons need something more in-depth on defamation law, feel free to refer them to us or get in touch with us directly! Courthouse Library BC’s reference services are available Mon-Fri from 9-4. You can get in touch with us through our email reference service at librarian@courthouselibrary.ca or through our toll-free line 1-800-665-2570. You can also refer patrons directly to our branches – to see which branch is nearest you and their hours of operations, check out our website.
This article is a LawMatters Blog post written for current awareness at the time of publishing. Please check the publication date as some information may have changed since then.