If you have been defamed you may seek both actual damages, to recover the harm that you have suffered, and punitive damages to punish the person who made the remark (and serve as an example to deter others).
If the defamation improperly accused you of a crime or reflected on your profession, the court or jury can assess the damages. For other types of defamation you must prove some actual damage to be able to recover.
This article provides general information about defamation of character in the spoken form of slander and the written form of libel. It gives general examples of what could be considered defamatory and what is normally not considered defamatory. It also outlines possible defenses against a slander or libel claim. However, it is not a substitute for qualified legal advice. Consult with a personal injury attorney that specializes in defamation actions if you feel you've been defamed, if you're facing any form of defamation of character action or have legal questions about this practice area.
