A local politician has been involved in a motor vehicle collision. Witnesses state that they saw the man leave a bar. Then, just two miles down the road, he struck a utility pole head on. On scene and throughout transport, the patient is confused and combative. When leaving the hospital, a reporter asks you what happened and you state that it looks as though the politician may be drunk, but you are not sure. Your statement is printed in the newspaper. Later, it is determined that the man was not drunk, but rather he was a diabetic and his blood sugar was low. What charge could the politician levy against you?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The politician could levy a charge of slander against you because your statement in the newspaper accused him of being drunk, which was not true and could damage his reputation. Slander is a spoken (or written) false statement about someone that harms their reputation.

A Local Politician Has Been Involved in a Motor Vehicle