Final answer:
Actual malice is a legal standard in defamation cases involving public officials. To prove actual malice, the plaintiff must show that the defendant made a false statement with knowledge of its falsity or reckless disregard for the truth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Actual malice refers to a legal standard that applies in defamation cases involving public officials. It requires the plaintiff to prove that the defendant made a false statement with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth. This standard was established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964.
To prove actual malice, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant acted with a high degree of awareness of the statement's falsity or with blatant disregard for verifying its accuracy. This can be shown through evidence such as prior knowledge of the statement's falsity, proof of intentional fabrication, or a lack of reasonable investigation before making the false statement.
It is important to note that actual malice only applies to defamation cases involving public officials or figures. Private individuals have different standards of liability for defamation, and the burden of proof is typically lower in those cases.