Slander? Libel?

[KBed]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California

I produce and cohost an online entertainment radio show. We have various bits that we do from show to show. One of these bits is "douchebag of the week." We (the three hosts of the show) cull newspaper articles to find three people to nominate for this esteemed award. Usually it is someone who has done something that by even modest standards has done something heinous, rude or just plain stupid. We each nominate a person, talk about the news story and then the audience gets to vote on a winner. That person is deemed the "douchebag of the week" (Yes, classy, I know).

Could we be setting ourselves up for a slander or libel suit? What can we and can't we do or say about these people to stay within our rights, and outside of theirs?What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[seniorjudge]

Anyone may sue anybody for anything at any time anywhere.

 

[Some Random Guy]

What can we and can't we do or say about these people to stay within our rights, and outside of theirs?

There is a difference in slander/libel suits between facts and opinions.

Watch MSNBC's Kieth Olberman's "Worst Person in the World" segment aired nationwide on a daily basis. He can get away with it because the people featured are in his opinion the worst persons in the world. If he instead spouted off things like "Bill O'Reilly kills kittens in his spare time", he would be stating some very defamatory things as facts, and would be sued quite quickly.

But as seniorjudge pointed out, you can be sued by any one for any reason.

So read up on the slander and libel laws. Also consider how much you repeat from the newspaper articles. If the newspaper reports some wild things (like the O'Reilly bit) and you repeat them without checking your facts, you could be sued over that.