Which of the following can be raised as a defense to a claim of defamation?
A) That the statement was true.
B) That there was a constitutional privilege to comment about the plaintiff who is a public figure and that the statement was made without malice.
C) That there was a conditional privilege to make defamatory comment on another's statements in order to protect legitimate self-interest.
D) All of these.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of these can be raised as defenses to a claim of defamation, depending on the specific circumstances of the case. The truth of the statement is a complete defense, while the constitutional privilege applies when the plaintiff is a public figure and the statement was made without malice. The conditional privilege applies when the statement was made in order to protect legitimate self-interest, such as in the case of an employer giving a negative reference for a former employee.

Which of the Following Can Be Raised as a Defense