Rob bet Joe $300 that the Chicago Bears would beat the San Francisco 49ers.The day after the Bears lost, Joe went to Rob's office and created quite a scene.Joe got the $300 and yelled nasty remarks about the Bears and the team's coach.Rob was furious.He lied to the onlookers by saying that Joe claimed to be an accountant but that he had never passed the required exams and had forged the documents.Joe lost several clients because of Rob's false statements.On these facts, which of the following is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rob made false statements about Joe's professional qualifications and forged documents, which harmed Joe's reputation and caused him to lose several clients. This is considered defamation, and Joe could successfully sue Rob for damages. The fact that Joe yelled nasty remarks about the Bears and the team's coach does not change the fact that Rob's statements about Joe were false and harmful to his reputation. The defense of qualified privilege would not apply here, as Rob's statements were not made in the course of fulfilling a legal or moral duty. The choices of nuisance and defamation against Joe are not applicable in this situation. The statement about Rob's false statements being defamation by innuendo is incorrect, as defamation by innuendo occurs when a statement implies a defamatory meaning rather than making a direct accusation.

Rob Bet Joe $300 That the Chicago Bears Would Beat