Hugmonster,
Thanks for pointing out some of the differences between libel and slander. However, I'm not sure I see how what you've written contradicts anything I wrote in my posting. I didn't suggest that "actual financial or material loss" was necessary for a libel to be actionable. On the contrary, I emphasised the fact that it has everything to do with reputation. Furthermore, I wasn't attempting to deal with criminal libel. Just simple libel under tort law - in which case proof of publication is required and truth would be an absolute defence.
So what exactly did I get wrong?
[This message has been edited by stagger (edited 08 October 2000).]