For a public official to obtain damages under libel laws, he or she must

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Public officials are held to a higher standard of proof in libel cases and must prove that the statement was made with actual malice, meaning that the person making the statement knew it was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. They do not have to show that the article is about their private life or that their chances for reelection were completely lost because of the article. They must present the same type of evidence that a private person would be required to offer, but with the higher standard of proving actual malice. There is no such thing as a Public Official Libel Act.

For a Public Official to Obtain Damages Under Libel Laws