What are the essential elements of defamation?

• A. Publication; identification; the statement is defamatory; and it was published.
• B. Publication of a true statement that harms reputation; identification; and it's defamatory.
• C. Publication of a false statement that harms the claimant's reputation; identification of the claimant; the statement is defamatory; and it was published.
• D. The statement is defamatory; the claimant is aware; no publication required; and it's false.

Answer: (C)

Defamation hinges on four key pieces: a false statement of fact about the claimant, that is published to a third party, identifies the claimant, and is defamatory (capable of lowering the claimant’s reputation). Truth is a defense, so a true statement cannot support a defamation claim.

The best answer includes all of these elements: it describes a false statement that harms the claimant’s reputation, specifies publication to others, identifies the claimant, and treats the statement as defamatory. This aligns with how defamation is typically defined and prosecuted.

The other options miss one or more elements: some omit falsity, some rely on a true statement, and one says no publication is required, which conflicts with the requirement that a defaming statement be communicated to others.