No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

Just think about it from a local level. If someone in your neighborhood started spreading rumors that you're a convict/pedo/rapist, and then suddenly you're fired from your job and your public persona is ruined forever, wouldn't you seek justice? That's why defamation laws exist. When lies lead to actual damages, it's not "thinking out loud" anymore.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

Just think about it from a local level. If someone in your neighborhood started spreading rumors that you're a convict/pedo/rapist, and then suddenly you're fired from your job and your public persona is ruined forever, wouldn't you seek justice? That's why defamation laws exist. When lies lead to actual damages, it's not "thinking out loud" anymore.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

Just think about it from a local level. If someone in your neighborhood started spreading rumors that you were a convict/pedo/rapist, and then suddenly you're fired from your job and your public persona is ruined forever, wouldn't you seek justice? That's why defamation laws exist. When lies lead to actual damages, it's not "thinking out loud" anymore.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

Just think about it from a local level. If someone in your neighborhood started spreading rumors that you were a convict/pedo/rapist, and then suddenly you're fired from your job and your public persona is ruined forever, wouldn't you seek justice? That's why defamation laws exist. When lies lead to actual damages, it's not "thinking out loud" anymore.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

I mean, let's say a neighbor of yours doesn't like you... so they go around tell your local community that you're an ex-convict/rapist/pedo/whatever.. and then suddenly your job fires you and your public persona is destroyed forever. All because someone lied about you. Wouldn't you want to seek justice for yourself? It's a pretty reasonable concern.

No, I haven't. But I don't need to in order to form an opinion on what should and should not be legally allowed to say.

Yes, actually you do, because the prosecution explains how defamation falls outside of free speech.

"Defamation must involve someone making a false statement of fact publicly — typically via the news media — and claiming that it's true. An opinion can't be defamatory. The statement also must have done actual damage to someone's reputation."

The parents suing Jones say his lies about their child's death harmed their reputations and led to death threats from Jones' followers.

For example, let's say a neighbor of yours doesn't like you... so they go around tell your local community that you're an ex-convict/rapist/pedo/whatever.. and then suddenly your job fires you and your public persona is destroyed forever. All because someone lied about you. Wouldn't you want to seek justice for yourself? It's a pretty reasonable concern.