Libel and Slander

Information on the law of libel and slander from the Erie County Bar Association. Libel and slander are forms of defamation. A defamatory statement is one that tends to disparage reputation or holds a person open to public ridicule, hatred, and contempt or tends to lower him/her in the estimation of the community. Libel is a defamatory statement that is written or printed. Slander refers to spoken defamatory statements. (08/2018)