Final answer:
Defamation involves making harmful statements that injure a person's reputation and can be grounds for civil damages. Public figures must prove 'actual malice' in defamation cases, as established by landmark court rulings to protect freedom of speech, while private individuals must show fault.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defamation and Legal Recourse for Public Figures
An intentional tort in which one party makes derogatory remarks about another that diminish the other party's reputation and that is grounds for an award of civil damages is known as defamation. Defamation can take the form of libel, which is written defamation, or slander, which is spoken defamation. Public figures, such as government officials, face a higher burden of proof for defamation claims due to the significant public interest in protecting freedom of speech and press.
According to the New York Times v. Sullivan case, a public official must demonstrate that the defamatory statements were made with "actual malice" — meaning, with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. This ruling established a key safeguard for media outlets against the potential abuse of defamation litigation by public figures seeking to silence criticism. Conversely, cases like Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc. highlighted that states could set their standards of liability for defamation suits involving private individuals, provided fault is shown and only actual damages are awarded if the standard is below actual malice.