You ll need a very good lawyer, because libel law is extremely complicated. It s constantly evolving. A Long, Painful Process Your lawsuit will be a very long, expensive, painful process. The station, network, newspaper or magazine will have on its side some of the best legal counsel available. Because they carry insurance to protect them against this kind of attack, they can spend an enormous amount of money defending themselves in court. . . .
News stories defame thousands of people every day in America, yet relatively few suits are filed.
The law provides protection for the media, based on the Constitution s First Amendment guaranteeing freedom of press and speech. To win a libel suit, you must prove more than the fact that you were defamed. The law says they can defame you and get away with it if the story is true. Truth is an almost perfect defense in a libel suit. There are no rigid rules.