Practice · Defamation
A false statement is not automatically actionable
Defamation claims are narrower than most people assume, and they move on one of the shortest deadlines in Texas civil law. Both of those facts matter from the first conversation.
What has to be shown
The elements, and the real defenses
In general terms, a defamation claim requires a false statement of fact, published or communicated to someone other than you, that damages your reputation, made with the requisite degree of fault. Opinion, without a false factual assertion underneath it, is generally not actionable, and truth is a complete defense regardless of how damaging the statement was.
Libel
Written or published defamation: a social media post, an online review, an article, or a written statement distributed to others.
Slander
Spoken defamation, generally requiring proof of actual damages unless it falls into a category courts treat as harmful on its face.
The deadline
This moves faster than most claims
Defamation carries a substantially shorter limitations period than the general personal injury deadline in Texas. If you are considering a claim, that timeline is the first thing to confirm, not the last.
A growing share of the defamation matters I see now involve online reviews, social media posts, or statements made in a business or professional context, where the harm is public and often ongoing rather than a single private statement. Preserving the original post, screenshots with timestamps, and any evidence of who saw it matters early, since platforms and pages change or disappear.
General information about Texas law, not advice about your situation. Whether a specific statement is actionable depends heavily on the exact facts.
Next step
Time matters here more than most claims
If you believe a false statement has harmed your reputation, that is worth a call now rather than later.