What is the difference between a private and public figure in libel?
There are differences between public and private figures in libel cases. A private figure is an individual who is not in the public eye. A public figure is someone in the public eye who has actively sought to influence the resolution of a matter of public interest. There are varying degrees of public figures, which can also play a role. If you make a claim about a private figure in your book and the individual wanted to charge you with libel, they would only have to prove “negligence,” or that a “reasonable” person would not have published the statements. If you are discussing a public figure, or a person in the public’s interest, they must prove negligence and “malice,” or intent to harm or knowledge the statements were false, which is slightly more difficult to prove.
