Two students bump into each other in the student union cafeteria and spill their trays. Food goes everywhere, but senior Frank Lee Mydeer decides he needs to bump back harder. He hurls insults at shy, freshman Casper Milquetoast using every epithet he can conceive of for the accident. Since the younger guy is redheaded and overweight, Mydeer throws a few darts at those personal traits as well. A crowd gathers around to see how Milquetoast has been humiliated -- so much so he drops out of school the next month. Obviously he suffered injury, so Milquetoast should win his defamation suit against Mydeer.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The language was not defamatory. Casper may have been humiliated but that is not damage to one's reputation. Name-calling does not fall under the tort of defamation.

Two Students Bump into Each Other in the Student Union