Blogs

To establish a defamation claim under Massachusetts law, four elements are required: (1) that the defendant made a statement, concerning the plaintiff, to a third party"; (2) that the statement was defamatory such that it could damage the plaintiff's reputation in the community; (3) that the defendant was at fault in making the statement; and (4) that the statement either caused the plaintiff economic loss, or is actionable without proof of economic loss.

Counterclaim 1: Defamation per se

That last part of the last element is also known as "defamation per se", which is actually Counterclaim 1. As a general rule, defamation requires proof that a plaintiff actually suffered a measurable economic loss. Your Aunt Edna's nasty rant about you on Facebook may have made you cry, but it probably didn't actually cost you money.

Even if you think it did, you aren't likely to hire an expensive expert to prove it cost you money, either. That's why many people threaten defamation lawsuits, but few actually file them. However, some defamation is considered so mean-spirited, so destructive, that a plaintiff can recover even without proof of economic loss. In Massachusetts, examples of defamation that can fall under this category are: 1) libel; 2) accusations of crimes; 3) accusations that plaintiff has certain diseases; and 4) statements that may prejudice the plaintiff's profession or business.

Counterclaim 3: Tortious interference

In order to make out a case for tortious interference with prospective contractual relations, a plaintiff has to prove: (1) plaintiff had a business relationship or contemplated contract; (2) the defendant knew about the relationship; (3) the defendant interfered with it through improper motive or means; and (4) the plaintiff's loss of advantage directly resulted from the defendant's conduct.

This might be more difficult for Cosby to prove. He probably had many then-existing and prospective deals in the entertainment business. However, he will have to prove that the accusers were specifically aware of these contracts, and that they acted intending to interfere with those contracts.

If Cosby losing these contracts was an unintended or unforeseeable consequence of the accusations, then this will be a difficult claim on which to prevail. Indeed, the accusers might counter that they had no economic incentive to interfere with his contracts—if anything, the more Cosby works...the more money is available to satisfy numerous judgments if his accusers were to win their lawsuits.

Counterclaim 4: Intentional infliction of emotional distress

Candidly speaking, in the world of lawsuits, Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress, or "IIED" as it's called, is often just an afterthought; an add-on to a complaint. It always sounds great as a claim—who isn't emotionally distressed on some level by the person they have sued? Practically, however, it's not usually the strongest cause of action in a complaint, which is why it usually brings up the rear in the list of claims against a defendant.

To sustain a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, a plaintiff must show (1) that the defendant intended to cause, or should have known that his conduct would cause, emotional distress; (2) that the defendant's conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) that the defendant's conduct caused the plaintiff's distress; and (4) that the plaintiff suffered severe distress.

The reason this is a tough one to win is because of the "extreme and outrageous" conduct standard. Courts have made clear that mere insults, indignities, threats, annoyances, petty oppressions, or other trivialities do not qualify.

Instead, "extreme and outrageous" is only where the conduct has been so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community. So in other words, it has to be really, really bad. Most conduct does not meet this high (or low, depending on how you view it) standard.

The best defense...a good offense?

Defamation cases are hard to win, but Cosby's defamation counterclaims in this case are his strongest.

Cosby's defense to these lawsuits is closely tied to his defamation counterclaims. Both will require him to show that his accusers are lying. While not as strong, this defense theory is also consistent with his other counterclaims. If Cosby is somehow able to prove that any accusers lied, he will still have to show that those deliberate fabrications and other conduct were intended to ruin his business relationships and cause him emotional distress.

As for his chances of prevailing? At first blush, it might seem hopeless for Cosby to actually sue his accusers. But consider this: The vast majority—if not all—of the evidence against him will be testimonial. Witness memory is notoriously fragile—and that's true even if it hasn't been eroded by the passage of decades. Also, witness credibility will be a factor, too.

Effective cross-examination can wilt the credibility of even seasoned, professional witnesses in front of a jury. If Cosby's lawyers are able to exploit inconsistencies and discredit memories of the accusers on cross examination, then he could, theoretically, pull off the improbable and turn this case around on the plaintiffs.

Follow Me