On December 21, 2020, the Court of Appeal affirmed the trial verdict in Lave v. Charter Communications on a 3-0 vote. Click here for opinion.
January 27, 2020, Torrance, CA - The Rager Law Firm Featured In The Los Angeles & San Francisco Daily Journal Article, 'Fighting The Bully'. Click Here To View Article.
January 15, 2019, Los Angeles, CA - Court Awards Kaiser Employee $1,228,721.96 In Wrongful Termination Case, Represented By Jeffrey Rager. Click Here To View Article.
You are probably familiar with the legal concept: defamation of character. Generally put, defamation is when a person makes a false statement about another person to a third party. Libel and slander are both forms of defamation. Libel is when the false statement is written and slander is when the false statement is made orally. There is more required to prove defamation than just proving that the defendant made a false written or oral statement, however.
In order to prove defamation a plaintiff will need to show that the defendant made a false statement about the plaintiff, it was published, and the plaintiff was injured as a result. By published we do not mean that it needs to be a headline in the Inland Empire Weekly; published simply means that a third party received the false statement and understood the meaning of the false statement and understood it was related to the plaintiff. As for injury, unless it is a case of libel per se, the plaintiff must be able to show that he or she sustained actual damages such as losing business clients or losing his or her employment.
In California, a case of libel per se means that injury is presumed in certain circumstances and therefore, the plaintiff does not need to prove actual damages. The following types of false statements are considered libel per se.
Depending on the circumstances, recoverable damages in California defamation law may include:
If you have been injured due to someone’s false statements that were made about you to a third party, our Inland Empire defamation attorneys at The Rager Law Firm will meet with you to discuss the facts of your case and injuries sustained. Our defamation team will advocate on your behalf until you receive the compensation that you deserve.