| Proving Defamation Damages |
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| A lawsuit for defamation has the following basic elements: (1) making a false statement; (2) about a person; (3) to others; and (4) actual damages (if the harm to the person is not apparent). There is a fifth element when the person is a public official or public figure. In such a case, the person who made the statement has to have made it with a known or reckless disregard of the truth. This article discusses the fourth element, actual damages. More... |
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| Recovery by Guest in Automobile Cases |
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| A "guest" in an automobile is a person who rides in an automobile driven by another person for his own pleasure or business without paying the driver or conferring any benefit on him. If the guest is injured while riding in the driver's automobile, he may be permitted to recover for any injuries that he suffers. His recovery will depend on whether or not a "guest statute" applies in the jurisdiction. More... |
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| Federal Tort Claims Act -- Notice of Claim |
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| Under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), a person who plans to file a personal injury action against the federal government must present a written "notice of claim," or "administrative claim," to the government agency that is allegedly responsible for the injury. A notice of claim is a prerequisite to a personal injury action against the federal government. If no notice of claim has been given, a court will dismiss the action. More... |
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| Federal Volunteer Protection Act -- Additional Liability Issues |
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| The federal Volunteer Protection Act (VPA) grants civil immunity to a volunteer who harms a person while performing services for a nonprofit organization or governmental entity. However, the VPA does not grant immunity to the nonprofit organization or governmental entity. Therefore, the VPA does not prohibit the person who has been harmed by the volunteer from filing a lawsuit against the organization or entity. More... |
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| Attorney Malpractice Liability to Non-Client |
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| In the course of an attorney's representation of a client, he may commit legal malpractice with respect to his prosecution, defense, or appeal of the client's action or his preparation of transactional documents for the client. The attorney's actions may constitute legal malpractice if he fails to use the skill, prudence, and diligence that attorneys of ordinary skill and capacity would use in performing their legal tasks. In addition to being liable to the client, the attorney may also be liable to a non-client in certain circumstances. More... |
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