Avoid defamation claims when telling institution's story during a crisis

Abstract

If officials at colleges and universities draw conclusions quickly during a crisis, and announce them publicly, they risk facing defamation claims by affected individuals if the statements later prove to be incorrect. But if officials wait too long to acknowledge or condemn misconduct, the institution may immediately lose far more in the court of public opinion than the expense of a defamation suit. In some cases, reputational interests may need to take precedence.