Costello v. Hardy

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• stating that “[w]hen a plaintiff proves publication of words that are defamatory per se, the elements of falsity and malice (or fault) are presumed, but may be rebutted by the defendant” and “[t]he element of injury may also be presumed”
• requiring that a defamation plaintiff establish causation
• wherein the court noted that if words are not defamatory per se, a plaintiff must prove malice, and in cases involving statements made about a public figure, a plaintiff must prove actual malice
• “Words which expressly or implicitly accuse another of criminal conduct, or which by their very nature tend to injure one’s personal or professional reputation . . . are considered defamatory per se.”
• false statement as element of defamation
• false statement as element of defamation

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).