Offit Kurman represents individuals and organizations in defamation matters involving false and damaging statements that harm reputations. The firm’s attorneys are skilled at navigating the legal distinctions between libel (written defamation) and slander (spoken defamation) and addressing the heightened legal standards applicable to public figures.
Our attorneys advise clients on defamation claims involving false statements made negligently or with actual malice, including those published across digital, print and broadcast platforms. Attorneys provide strategic counsel on libel, slander, and the constitutional considerations affecting public and private figures.
Offit Kurman handles complex reputational harm matters, including those where damages are presumed under the law, and counsels clients on the evidentiary standards required to prove defamation. The team also guides clients through state-specific defamation laws and defenses.
In addition to litigation, the firm offers pre-litigation support, including cease-and-desist strategies, demand letters, and crisis reputation management. Attorneys also pursue remedies such as retractions, expungements, and injunctive relief where appropriate.
Our defamation attorneys have a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes in high-stakes defamation matters, including:
- Secured a unanimous $5.3 million jury verdict in South Carolina on defamation and civil conspiracy claims for a former Clemson University student, following nearly five years of litigation and a successful writ to the state Supreme Court. (Kimberly C. Lau)
- Achieved a confidential, pre-discovery federal settlement for a Virginia Tech student wrongfully accused under Title IX, resulting in a retraction, record expungement, and full university reinstatement. (Kimberly C. Lau)
- Obtained a $15 million jury verdict and settlement on behalf of a mortgage banking client, ranked among the top 15 highest reported verdicts in Pennsylvania that year. (Neil A. Morris)
- Recovered $25,000 in a settlement for a sitting mayor targeted by a political opponent, one of the few successful defamation claims by a public official in over 40 years. (Neil A. Morris)
