ABA Family Legal Guide

Personal Injury

Intentional Wrongs

My late grandfather, who owned a textile factory, was called "unfair to labor" in a recent book about the industry. Is that libelous?

While it can be libelous to write that someone is unfair to labor--or is a crook, a drunk, or an anarchist--no defamation action can be brought for someone who is deceased. If your family still owns the factory and the same accusation made against your grandfather was made against your living family or your business, a defamation action could be brought.