Question

Some people have a reputation that is already so good or so bad that courts have held that they can out-win a defamation suit.

a. True
b. False

Answer 1

False. While some people may have a reputation that makes it more difficult to win a defamation lawsuit, they cannot automatically out-win such a lawsuit.

Step-by-step explanation:

False. While it is true that some people may have such a good or bad reputation that they may find it difficult to successfully win a defamation lawsuit, it is not accurate to say that they can automatically out-win such a lawsuit. The courts have established specific standards for defamation suits involving public figures, such as government officials and celebrities. In the landmark case of New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, the Supreme Court ruled that public figures must prove that the statement was made with either malicious intent or "reckless disregard" for the truth in order to win a defamation lawsuit.