Defamation Forum

[bissey]

Quick question guys:

For public matter defamation about a public figure, what is the test? Curtis (malice test) controls public matters concerning public figures, and public officials don't have a private life so nothing is a private matter, but this one has me stumped. I guess a related question is do public figures has private lives?

Thanks

[bissey]

I guess I found the answer (correct me if I'm wrong). Public figures do NOT have private lives (except for limited purpose ones), so it's also under Curtis/malice test.

[bissey]

oh, just realized a typo:

For private matter defamation about a public figure, what is the test?

[StyrofoamWar]

oh, just realized a typo:

For private matter defamation about a public figure, what is the test?

Good luck finding an answer. The Supreme Court has yet to consider a case on this. Basically, it's up to us law students to come up with it ourselves on a test.