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Why has the Supreme Court ruled that well-known people should be treated differently from members of the general public in defamation lawsuits?

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Answer:

2 words : Defamation Standard : "Actual Malice"

1. for the famous : they have to prove the person wrote the false story on purpose or "Actual Malice"

otherwise lawsuits could hurt free speech & the press.

2. private individuals only need to prove that the

statement was false &

made with negligence or a

lack of reasonable care.

3. current debate is about social media which can

hurt both famous & private people

1.

well-known people's job is being famous

fame is from reputation

unlike money, if reputation is lost,

from false or careless news-making,

it cannot be gotten back

if news outlet reports a false story about a celebrity,

which damages their reputation their job & income could be gone

but even non celebrities are protected

famous people have voluntarily placed themselves in the public eye

the Court says that famous people have to show

"actual malice,"

lawsuits could hurt free speech & the press.

2.

private individuals only need to prove that the statement was false and made with negligence or a lack of reasonable care.

1. Hulk Hogan v. Gawker Media (2016): The professional wrestler, Hulk Hogan, was awarded $140 million in damages after a video of him having with a friend's wife was published by Gawker. The court found that Gawker's actions were an invasion of Hogan's privacy, and that the publication had acted with reckless disregard for his rights.

2. Melania Trump v. Daily Mail (2017): The First Lady sued the Daily Mail for libel after the newspaper published an article claiming that she had worked as an in the 1990s. The case was settled for an undisclosed sum, but the Daily Mail issued an apology and retraction.

3. Amber Heard v. Johnny Depp (2020): The actress, Amber Heard, filed a defamation lawsuit against her ex-husband, actor Johnny Depp, after he accused her of domestic. The case was dismissed in 2021, but Heard's allegations have had a significant impact on Depp's career and public image.

4. Bill Cosby v. Andrea Constand (2017): The comedian, Bill Cosby, was sued for defamation by Andrea Constand, one of the women who accused him of . Cosby had denied the allegations and accused Constand of lying, but the case was settled out of court.

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