A business’s reputation can lead to either great success or complete failure.
Now, when a disparaging comment can be made instantly online and dispersed to thousands, your business may suffer significant harm with the click of a button.
When someone makes a false claim about your business, you want to do as much as you can to protect your reputation.
This article provides information on the types of claims you can bring, Texas defamation laws, and how to avoid business defamation.
If you have questions, a business lawyer at Massingill can help. Contact us online or call (512) 337-4398 today to get started.
What Is Business Defamation in Texas?
Defamation is when someone makes a false statement about a person or entity and causes damage to their reputation. These statements can be either written (known as libel) or spoken (known as slander).
If a person spreads false information about your business that causes harm, there are two possible claims you can file: defamation and business disparagement. The differentiating factor between the two claims is who suffers the harm.
A defamation claim alleges harm to an individual’s reputation. For example, the individual could be the business owner. Business disparagement claims, on the other hand, allege harm to a business’s economic interest.
As the Texas Supreme Court summarizes, “The two torts differ in that defamation actions chiefly serve to protect the personal reputation of an injured party, while a business disparagement claim protects economic interests.”
It is possible to file both types of claims to protect your personal reputation and recover economic losses to your business.
At Massingill, we can help determine which type of claim makes the most sense for your business.
What Is Defamation of Character in Texas?
According to defamation Texas law, defamation of character is when an individual or a company masks false statements as facts about another individual or company in an attempt to ruin their reputation and otherwise cause serious damage.
Texas Defamation Laws
To be successful in a lawsuit for defamation or business disparagement, the plaintiff must prove all elements of the claim.
Defendant Published a False Statement
The false statement can be either written or spoken. Keep in mind that a negative comment about your business is not the same as a false statement.
A Statement was Defamatory Toward the Plaintiff
A statement is defamatory when it harms the reputation of a person or entity.
The Defendant Acted with Required Degree of Fault
Depending on who the plaintiff is, the defendant must have made the statement with a certain level of fault. For private individuals, which is likely how a business owner will be classified, the degree of fault is negligence.
When the plaintiff is a public official or public figure, the defendant must have acted with actual malice.
There is a one-year statute of limitations to file a lawsuit for defamation in Texas. If your business suffers economic harm more than a year after the false statement is made, you may be able to file a business disparagement claim.
Having a business slander and defamation case can be time-consuming and costly.
The business lawyers at Massingill can help simplify the process with their decades of experience both pursuing and defending commercial defamation lawsuits.
Elements of a Business Disparagement Claim
If your business suffered economic losses because of a false statement, you may consider filing a business disparagement lawsuit. This type of claim requires a plaintiff to prove the defendant did the following:
- Published false or disparaging information about the business,
- Acted with malice,
- Lacked privilege to make the statement, and
- Caused special damages to the business.
Let’s explore each of these elements in detail.
Publication of False/Disparaging Statement
First, the statement must be published, meaning the disparaging words could either be spoken or written to someone. False comments made in a private conversation likely will not count.
If a person makes a true statement that harms your business, you will also not have a valid claim. The comment must be false.
Malice
Malice is the intent of the defendant. The person or entity making the comment must have known it was false, or not cared whether it was false, and made the statement anyway.
Lack of Privilege
If the defendant had the legal privilege to make the false statement, then the business disparagement claim will fail.
Examples of privilege include statements made under oath during a judicial proceeding or statements made by members of state or federal legislatures during debates.
Special Damages
The plaintiff must show that the business suffered special damages as a direct result of the disparaging statement.
This means that you must be able to prove an economic loss to your business. The defendant’s actions must have stopped others from doing business with you.
There is a two-year statute of limitations to file a business disparagement lawsuit in Texas.
How to Avoid Business Defamation
A hurdle for businesses is tackling online defamation. From Yelp to Google reviews, the opportunity to spread false information is huge.
As a preemptive measure, you may include an anti-disparagement provision in your contracts with customers or clients. However, this would only apply to parties to the contract.
Some businesses hire a reputation management service. These companies go after those publishing defamatory information and threaten legal action.
They also have the ability to publish enough positive information about your business, using search engine optimization (SEO) tools, to bury false statements.
If the damage has been done, your only option may be to file a lawsuit for defamation or business disparagement.
Remember, not everyone is going to like you. You won’t always be able to prevent someone from making a negative comment or review about your business.
As a Business Adviser I have referred several clients to this firm and when I’ve asked about their experience, it was consistent: “This Law Firm is extremely knowledgeable and reliable, Josh is very easy to work with and they are focused, efficient and cost effective.” Because it is important that my clients are being recommended to the best most ethical referral partners, I am happy to endorse the Massingill Law Firm.
John Russell Principal Adviser: The Russell Consulting Group
Contact a Business Defamation Lawyer Today
Defamation against a business can have long-lasting personal and economic impacts. If you or your business has suffered harm from a false statement, get in touch with an Austin business lawyer at Massingill.
Texas defamation law can be tricky, but we take pride in simplifying the complex, so you feel confident in our representation. With over 100 five-star Google ratings, we continue to deliver quality work to our clients.
For a free consultation, call our office directly at (512) 337-4398 or contact us online.
Joshua Massingill
Joshua Massingill is an attorney practicing in Austin, Texas. He serves on the Texas State Bar’s Law Practice Management Committee, the Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) Board of Directors, and the Success-Werx Board of Advisors. He mentors young entrepreneurs in Leander ISD’s INCubatorEDU program and is active in his church.
Rate this Post
Loading...