Statement Assailing Lawyer’s Appearance and Competence Not Factual Enough to Sustain Defamation Claim – Ind. Appeals Court

In Sasser v. State Farm Insurance Co., the Indiana appeals court addressed the contours of defamation law in the context of two statements that variously impugned an attorney’s physical appearance and professional abilities. The plaintiff, an in-house lawyer for the insurance giant defendant, had a years’ long personality clash with a non-attorney claims adjuster.  The plaintiff alleged …

Illinois Defamation Law: The Quick and Dirty

Defamation is a false, factual statement published to a third party reader or listener.  Illinois recognizes two types of defamation – libel (written) and slander (oral) and the same rules apply to both. A defamation plaintiff must present sufficient facts establishing (1) a false statement about the plaintiff, (2) that’s not privileged, (3) to a …