An essential element of the tort is that the alleged defamatory statement must be "of and concerning" the plaintiff. Why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The requirement that the defamatory statement must be "of and concerning" the plaintiff is essential to protect the plaintiff's reputation. This ensures that only those who have been directly affected by the statement can sue for defamation. Otherwise, the floodgates would be open for anyone to claim defamation based on statements that were not really about them, and the law would not be effective in protecting reputations.

An Essential Element of the Tort Is That the Alleged