Investigations in the Workplace, 2nd Edition

a. False Light

False light invasion of privacy is similar to defamation. But, there are differences. Defamation involves injury to one’s reputation, whereas a false statement involves emotional distress suffered by the party. Defamation may occur with publication to just one other party, whereas a false statement involves publicity.⁶⁴ A false statement is one made with reckless disregard for the truth that attributes highly objectionable characteristics, beliefs, or conduct to an individual and places him before the public in a false position.⁶⁵ Publicity means the statement was made before the public or shared with a sufficient number of persons that it is likely to become public knowledge.

In Aranyosi v. Delchamps, Inc., several employees were ...