Kentucky Law on Defamation of Character
Defamation of character is a matter of civil law. In civil lawsuits, the plaintiff seeks money damages for injuries suffered. In Kentucky, defamation of character is governed by the rules applicable to tort law.
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Definition
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Kentucky follows the common law definition of defamation of character. Defamation of character involves a person making false statements about another person that causes that person to suffer harm. Defamation of character can be committed by verbal statements (slander) or written statements (libel). The false statements must have been published or communicated to a third party by the defendant, for defamation of character to occur.
Defamation Per Se
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In most cases, the plaintiff must prove they have been damaged by the false statements. Kentucky law views certain statements as defamation per se, such as statements or allegations of crimes involving moral turpitude and those affecting a person's professional character. No special damages need be proved when a statement is defamatory per se.
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Statute of Limitations
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The statute of limitations defines the maximum time limit within which a lawsuit must be filed. There is a one-year statute of limitations for filing a defamation of character lawsuit under the provisions of the Kentucky Revised Statutes Section 413.140(1) (d).
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References
Resources
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