{"id":970,"date":"2021-10-25T03:49:32","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T03:49:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/judicial-council-california-civil-jury-instructions-caci\/?page_id=970"},"modified":"2022-05-03T20:24:47","modified_gmt":"2022-05-03T20:24:47","slug":"caci-1704-defamation-per-se-essential-factual-elements-private-figure-matter-of-private-concern","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/judicial-council-california-civil-jury-instructions-caci\/caci-1704-defamation-per-se-essential-factual-elements-private-figure-matter-of-private-concern\/","title":{"rendered":"CACI 1704 Defamation per se\u2014Essential Factual Elements (Private Figure\u2014Matter of Private Concern)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ku7v4zyt-53fc157616dd99d91a03a27e4f43eca2\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-ku7v4zyt-53fc157616dd99d91a03a27e4f43eca2{\npadding-bottom:10px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-ku7v4zyt-53fc157616dd99d91a03a27e4f43eca2 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-ku7v4zyt-53fc157616dd99d91a03a27e4f43eca2 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-ku7v4zyt-53fc157616dd99d91a03a27e4f43eca2 av-special-heading-h1 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_hr  avia-builder-el-first '><h1 class='av-special-heading-tag '  itemprop=\"headline\"  >CACI 1704 Defamation per se\u2014Essential Factual Elements (Private Figure\u2014Matter of Private Concern)<\/h1><div class='av-subheading av-subheading_below'><p>California Civil Jury Instructions CACI<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-91d7ccd583a503147498e120fee2ff9b hr-default  avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_heading  el_before_avia_sc_search '><span class='hr-inner '><span 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itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/judicial-council-california-civil-jury-instructions-caci\/\">CACI Jury Instructions Index<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/caci-fillable-forms.crowdsourcelawyers.com\/\">App: CACI Jury Instructions Fillable Forms Word Format<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-91d7ccd583a503147498e120fee2ff9b hr-default  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-ku7v69su-ee3c586ee687f82ee0b966594216483c\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-ku7v69su-ee3c586ee687f82ee0b966594216483c .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:20px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-ku7v69su-ee3c586ee687f82ee0b966594216483c '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><h2 class=\"SS_Banner\">1704\u00a0Defamation per se\u2014Essential Factual Elements (Private Figure\u2014Matter of Private Concern)<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">[<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] claims that [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] harmed [him\/her\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] by making [one or more of] the following statement(s): [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">list all claimed per se defamatory statement(s)<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">]. To establish this claim, [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] must prove all of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Liability<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">1.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">That [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] made [one or more of] the statement(s) to [a person\/persons] other than [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">];<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">2.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">That [this person\/these people] reasonably understood that the statement(s) [was\/were] about [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">];<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">3.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">[That [this person\/these people] reasonably understood the statement(s) to mean that [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">insert ground(s) for defamation per se, e.g., \u201c[name of plaintiff] had committed a crime\u201d<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">]];<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">4.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">That [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] failed to use reasonable care to determine the truth or falsity of the statement(s).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Actual Damages<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">If [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] has proved all of the above, then [he\/she\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] is entitled to recover [his\/her\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] actual damages if [he\/she\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] proves that [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">]\u2019s wrongful conduct was a substantial factor in causing any of the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">a.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">Harm to [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">]\u2019s property, business, trade, profession, or occupation;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">b.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">Expenses [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] had to pay as a result of the defamatory statements;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">c.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">Harm to [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">]\u2019s reputation; or<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">d.<\/span><\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">Shame, mortification, or hurt feelings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Assumed Damages<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">Even if [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] has not proved any actual damages for harm to reputation or shame, mortification, or hurt feelings, the law assumes that [he\/she\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] has suffered this harm. Without presenting evidence of damage, [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] is entitled to receive compensation for this assumed harm in whatever sum you believe is reasonable. You must award at least a nominal sum, such as one dollar.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Punitive Damages<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">[<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Name of plaintiff<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] may also recover damages to punish [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] if [he\/she\/<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">nonbinary pronoun<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] proves by clear and convincing evidence that [<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">name of defendant<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] acted with malice, oppression, or fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">[<\/span><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">For specific provisions, see\u00a0CACI Nos. 3940\u20133949.<\/span><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\">] <br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"SS_Note\">\n<h2 class=\"SS_HideShowSection SS_Expandable\"><\/h2>\n<div id=\"TRNotes_n_1\">\n<p><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">New September 2003; Revised April 2008, December 2009, June 2016, December 2016, January 2018 <br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/\">Crowdsource Lawyers<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/judicial-council-california-civil-jury-instructions-caci\">https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/judicial-council-california-civil-jury-instructions-caci<\/a><span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\"><br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"SS_Note\">\n<h2 class=\"SS_HideShowSection SS_Expandable\">Directions for Use<\/h2>\n<div id=\"TRNotes_n_2\">\n<p>Special verdict form VF-1704,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Defamation per se\u2014Affirmative Defense\u2014Truth (Private Figure\u2014Matter of Private Concern)<\/span>, may be used in this type of case.<\/p>\n<p>Use the bracketed element 3 only if the statement is not defamatory on its face (i.e., if the judge has not determined that the statement is defamatory as a matter of law). For statutory grounds of defamation per se, see\u00a0Civil Code sections 45\u00a0(libel) and 46 (slander). Note that certain specific grounds of libel per se have been defined by case law.<\/p>\n<p>An additional element of a defamation claim is that the alleged defamatory statement is \u201cunprivileged.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Hui v. Sturbaum<\/span>\u00a0(2014) 222 Cal.App.4th 1109, 1118 [166 Cal.Rptr.3d 569].) If this element presents an issue for the jury, an instruction on the \u201cunprivileged\u201d element should be given.<\/p>\n<p>Under the common-interest privilege of\u00a0Civil Code section 47(c), the defendant bears the initial burden of showing facts to bring the communication within the privilege. The plaintiff then must prove that the statement was made with malice. (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Lundquist v. Reusser<\/span>\u00a0(1994) 7 Cal.4th 1193, 1203 [31 Cal.Rptr.2d 776, 875 P.2d 1279].) If the common-interest privilege is at issue, give\u00a0CACI No. 1723,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Common Interest Privilege\u2014Malice<\/span>. The elements of\u00a0CACI No. 1723\u00a0constitute the \u201cunprivileged\u201d element of this basic claim.<\/p>\n<p>If the privilege of\u00a0Civil Code section 47(d)\u00a0for a privileged publication or broadcast is at issue, give\u00a0CACI No. 1724,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Fair and True Reporting Privilege.<\/span>\u00a0(See\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">J-M Manufacturing Co., Inc. v. Phillips &amp; Cohen LLP<\/span>\u00a0(2016) 247 Cal.App.4th 87 [201 Cal.Rptr.3d 782].) If some other privilege is at issue, an additional element or instruction targeting that privilege will be required. (See, e.g.,\u00a0Civ. Code, \u00a7\u200947(b);\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Argentieri v. Zuckerberg\u00a0<\/span>(2017) 8 Cal.App.5th 768, 780\u2013787 [214 Cal.Rptr.3d 358]\u00a0[litigation privilege].)<\/p>\n<p>For statutes and cases on libel and slander and on the difference between defamation per se and defamation per quod, see the Sources and Authority to\u00a0CACI No. 1700,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Defamation per se\u2014Essential Factual Elements (Public Officer\/Figure and Limited Public Figure). <br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"SS_Note\">\n<h2 class=\"SS_HideShowSection SS_Expandable\">Sources and Authority<\/h2>\n<div id=\"TRNotes_n_3\">\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cDefamation is an invasion of the interest in reputation. The tort involves the intentional publication of a statement of fact that is false, unprivileged, and has a natural tendency to injure or which causes special damage.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Smith v. Maldonado<\/span>\u00a0(1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 637, 645 [85 Cal.Rptr.2d 397].)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cThe question whether a plaintiff is a public figure [or not] is to be determined by the court, not the jury.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Stolz v. KSFM 102 FM<\/span>\u00a0(1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 195, 203\u2013204 [35 Cal.Rptr.2d 740], internal citation omitted.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">The jury should be instructed that the defendant\u2019s negligence is an element of libel if the plaintiff is a private figure. (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Carney v. Santa Cruz Women Against Rape<\/span>\u00a0(1990) 221 Cal.App.3d 1009, 1016 [271 Cal.Rptr. 30].)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cA private-figure plaintiff must prove at least negligence to recover any damages and, when the speech involves a matter of public concern, he must also prove\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">New York Times<\/span>\u00a0malice \u2026 to recover presumed or punitive damages.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Brown v. Kelly Broadcasting Co.<\/span>\u00a0(1989) 48 Cal.3d 711, 747 [257 Cal.Rptr. 708, 771 P.2d 406].)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cThe\u00a0First Amendment\u00a0trumps the common law presumption of falsity in defamation cases involving private-figure plaintiffs when the allegedly defamatory statements pertain to a matter of public interest.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Nizam-Aldine v. City of Oakland<\/span>\u00a0(1996) 47 Cal.App.4th 364, 375 [54 Cal.Rptr.2d 781].)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cThus, in a defamation action the burden is normally on the defendant to prove the truth of the allegedly defamatory communications. However, in accommodation of\u00a0First Amendment\u00a0considerations (which are implicated by state defamation laws), where the plaintiff is a public figure, the \u2018public-figure plaintiff must show the falsity of the statements at issue in order to prevail in a suit for defamation.\u2019\u2009\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Stolz, supra,<\/span>\u00a030 Cal.App.4th at p. 202, internal citations omitted.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cSince the statements at issue here involved a matter of purely private concern communicated between private individuals, we do not regard them as raising a\u00a0First Amendment\u00a0issue. \u2018While such speech is not totally unprotected by the\u00a0First Amendment, its protections are less stringent\u2019 [than that applying to speech on matters of public concern].\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Savage v. Pacific Gas &amp; Electric Co.<\/span>\u00a0(1993) 21 Cal.App.4th 434, 445 [26 Cal.Rptr.2d 305], quoting\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Dun &amp; Bradstreet, Inc. v. Greenmoss Builders, Inc.<\/span>\u00a0(1985) 472 U.S. 749, 760 [105 S.Ct. 2939, 86 L.Ed.2d 593], internal citation omitted.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cWe conclude that permitting recovery of presumed and punitive damages in defamation cases absent a showing of \u2018actual malice\u2019 does not violate the\u00a0First Amendment\u00a0when the defamatory statements do not involve matters of public concern.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Dun &amp; Bradstreet, Inc., supra,<\/span>\u00a0472 U.S. at p. 763.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cWhen the speech is of exclusively private concern and the plaintiff is a private figure, as in\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Dun &amp; Bradstreet,<\/span>\u00a0the constitutional requirements do not necessarily force any change in at least some of the features of the common-law landscape.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc. v. Hepps<\/span>\u00a0(1986) 475 U.S. 767, 775 [106 S.Ct. 1558, 89 L.Ed.2d 783].)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201c[T]he jury was instructed that if it found that defendant published matter that was defamatory on its face and it found by clear and convincing evidence that defendant knew the statement was false or published it in reckless disregard of whether it was false, then the jury \u2018also may award plaintiff presumed general damages.\u2019 Presumed damages \u2018are those damages that necessarily result from the publication of defamatory matter and are presumed to exist. They include reasonable compensation for loss of reputation, shame, mortification, and hurt feeling. No definite standard or method of calculation is prescribed by law by which to fix reasonable compensation for presumed damages, and no evidence of actual harm is required. Nor is the opinion of any witness required as to the amount of such reasonable compensation. In making an award for presumed damages, you shall exercise your authority with calm and reasonable judgment and the damages you fix shall be just and reasonable in the light of the evidence. You may in the exercise of your discretion award nominal damages only, namely an insignificant sum such as one dollar.\u2019 [\u00b6\u00b6] \u2026 [T]he instant instruction, which limits damages to \u2018those damages that necessarily result from the publication of defamatory matter,\u2019 constitutes substantial compliance with [Civil Code] section 3283. Thus, the instant instructions, \u2018if obeyed, did not allow the jurors to \u201center the realm of speculation\u201d regarding future suffering.\u2019\u2009\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Sommer v. Gabor<\/span>\u00a0(1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1455, 1472\u20131473 [48 Cal.Rptr.2d 235], internal citations omitted.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"SS_ListLabel\">\u2022<\/span><span class=\"SS_ListItemContent\">\u201cIn defamation actions generally, factual truth is a defense which it is the defendant\u2019s burden to prove. In a defamation action against a newspaper by a private person suing over statements of public concern, however, the\u00a0First Amendment\u00a0places the burden of proving falsity on the plaintiff.\u201d (<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Eisenberg v. Alameda Newspapers<\/span>\u00a0(1999) 74 Cal.App.4th 1359, 1382 [88 Cal.Rptr.2d 802].) <br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><br class=\"avia-permanent-lb\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"SS_Heading\"><span class=\"SS_bf\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_bf\"><span class=\"SS_ib\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_ib\">Secondary Sources<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>5 Witkin, Summary of California Law (11th ed. 2017) Torts, \u00a7\u00a7\u2009623\u2013654, 721<\/div>\n<div>4 Levy et al.,\u00a0California Torts, Ch. 45,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Defamation<\/span>, \u00a7\u00a7\u200945.04,\u00a045.13\u00a0(Matthew Bender)<\/div>\n<div>30\u00a0California Forms of Pleading and Practice, Ch. 340,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Libel and Slander<\/span>, \u00a7\u2009340.18\u00a0(Matthew Bender)<\/div>\n<div>14\u00a0California Points and Authorities, Ch. 142,\u00a0<span class=\"SS_it\" data-housestyle=\"EMPHASIS_it\">Libel and Slander (Defamation)<\/span>, \u00a7\u2009142.87\u00a0(Matthew Bender)<\/div>\n<div>California Civil Practice: Torts, \u00a7\u00a7\u200921:1\u201321:2, 21:22\u201321:25, 21:51 (Thomson Reuters)<\/div>\n<div class=\"SS_Note\">\n<div id=\"TRNotes_n_3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<div  class='hr av-qv4c2-b9f3e01c766d9bb921103428a00bd588 hr-default  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_textblock  el_before_av_textblock '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mzz2q-43ca3ce44d53b0592c245ab0f4e920c7\">\n#top .av_textblock_section.av-mzz2q-43ca3ce44d53b0592c245ab0f4e920c7 .avia_textblock{\nfont-size:22px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mzz2q-43ca3ce44d53b0592c245ab0f4e920c7 '   itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><a href=\"https:\/\/crowdsourcelawyers.com\/\">CrowdSourceLawyers.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-970","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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