What is NOT a necessary requirement for a claim of libel?

In a libel claim, it is essential for the statement to be in a written or permanent form, as this distinguishes libel from slander, which typically refers to spoken defamatory statements. The requirement for publication is also critical since for a statement to be considered libelous, it must be communicated to a third party; otherwise, it does not have the potential to harm the plaintiff's reputation publicly. The truth of the statement is another key element, as a false statement is required to establish a libel claim; truth serves as a defense in defamation cases.

The assertion that a statement must have caused injury to the plaintiff's reputation is not a necessary requirement for a claim of libel under certain circumstances. In many instances, especially with statements considered “defamatory per se,” the law presumes that harm to reputation exists, and actual damages do not have to be proven. Therefore, it is possible to pursue a libel claim even if specific evidence of injury to reputation is not provided, which distinguishes this choice as not being a necessary requirement.