'You Are Nobody!' Is Slander
 

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...t&section=news

ROME (Reuters) - A driver who told a parking attendant "You are nobody!" has felt the weight of Italy's legal system, which ruled the seemingly innocuous words constituted slander -- and fined him heavily.

The tiff over a parking space led to Giulio C. being fined 300 euros ($370) plus 500 euros legal costs when a court in the northeast city of Trieste turned down his appeal.

The court ruled the phrase 'you are nobody' "means precisely 'you are a nonentity' and to state that a person is a nonentity is certainly offensive because it is damaging to the dignity of a person."

The decision led celebrated Corriere della Sera commentator Beppe Severgnini to recall in his column on Friday that this was not the first time Italian appeal courts had deliberated on the definition of slander.

Indeed, over the years a sort of "guide to legitimate offence" has been formulated and Severgnini, quoting the courts, gave a few of the more common examples.

"Ball-breaker" is not slander because although "an undoubtedly rude expression it is now in common usage."

"I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way."

Under Italian law, the crime of slander is punishable by a maximum fine of 516 euros.

What happens if you call someone an asshole? I'd just be funny to see a legal arguement that the person described does not accurately resemble an asshole.

I guess Giulio C. would have been better off just sticking the guy with a stiletto, old school style. :dead:

Trust lawyers to argue any stupidity...

and at 4:15 the baby said- i'm ok, then at 5:30 the baby said - i'm in trouble...

paraphrasing VP Candidate J. Edwards channeling the unborn child who ended with brain damage. big $$$ paid out on that case.

[quote=ladysycamore]

"I'll kick your arse" also passes muster because this is a "robust reaction which should be understood in a figurative way."
QUOTE]

In the US, that might be considered fighting words because of the violent overtone, whether the threat was definite or not.

I suppose Bite me has gone by the wayside also?

Well, insulting someone I can understand being considered slander. What about -

"HEY BABY! EVER HAVE YOUR ASSHOLE LICKED BY A FAT MAN IN AN OVERCOAT?"


What would that be?
A dinner invite?
A marrage proposal?
Any ideas?

Jay and Silent Bob will return...

It appears that would very simply be an inquiry.

No implication is made by the asking whether the act has occured.

"You have had your asshole licked by a fat man in an overcoat," were such statement untrue, would be slander (if spoken. libel if printed).

In context...
 

"You are nobody" is pretty much true, to any reasonable approximation. Unless you're Zaphod Beeblebrox, anyway.

Would it have been the same if the driver told the attendant "You do not exist!" and ignored the attendant for the duration of the encounter?