| Criminal Conversation with a Spouse |
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| Under the common law, there was a tort for criminal conversation with a spouse. Although most states have enacted statutes that abolished the tort, there are a few states in which a spouse may bring an action against a third party for the tort. More... |
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| Defamatory Statements |
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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 first element, making a false statement. A false statement of fact about a person that tends to harm the person's reputation is known as a defamatory statement. More... |
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| Opinion and Other Defenses to Defamation |
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| Defamation lawsuits are not easy to win because the plaintiff must both prove the difficult elements of his or her case and avoid the many defenses to defamation. This article discusses some of the standard defenses to defamation, including the defense of opinion. More... |
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| Federal Tort Claims Act -- Overview |
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| Under the doctrine of sovereign immunity, the federal government cannot be sued without its permission. The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) is a federal law that waives the federal government's sovereign immunity under certain circumstances. More... |
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| Classifying Torts |
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| Apart from legislation granting a right to sue for a specific harm, personal injury law generally consists of tort law and the civil procedure for enforcing it. This article discusses how tort law is classified. More... |
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