Okabe & Haushalter
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Call Today! 310-543-7708
Okabe & Haushalter

Defamation & Libel Claims

Have the words and assertions of someone else severely damaged your reputation or livelihood? If so, you could have a legitimate defamation claim to recover financial damages. In our current world of ubiquitous Internet access, social media, and inter-connectivity, the words of others can have powerful sway in the public eye and, when this fact isn’t respected, lives can be affected.

At Okabe & Haushalter, we understand that, for many individuals, their reputation is tied directly to how they run their enterprises and support themselves and their families. California laws do provide remedies for libel and slander and our experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles defamation lawyers know how to compellingly put forth a claim that demands proper compensation.

Interested in learning more about your defamation claim options? Call Okabe & Haushalter at 310-430-7799 now.

Elements Of A Defamation Claim

Defamation claims fall into two categories: libel claims, which involve written, published statements that harm the reputation of others, and slander, which is defamation that is spoken in public. Both of these actions are addressed in Cal. Civ. Code §§ 44, 45a, and 46 and require certain criteria to put forth to the court.

Critical elements of a defamation claim include:

  • That the assertion (or publication) is stated as a fact
  • That the assertion (or publication) is false
  • That the assertion isn’t privileged in any way
  • That the assertion inherently damaging
  • That putting forth the assertion (or publication) amounts to negligence

In California, the statute of limitations for defamation claims is only one year—so the time you have to file your claim against the responsible parties is limited. If you feel that your life has been adversely affected by the false assertions of someone else, then the time to act is now. Call our dedicated team at Okabe & Haushalter to start exploring your civil suit options today.

Contact our offices to request a free case evaluation now.