What constitutes slander?

• A. A false statement made to support a public figure
• B. A verbal attack on a person's character or integrity
• C. A written defamatory statement
• D. Public criticism of a company's policies

Answer: (B)

Slander refers specifically to the act of making false and damaging statements about someone verbally, which aligns with the notion of a verbal attack on a person's character or integrity. For a statement to be classified as slander, it must be spoken and must harm the reputation of the individual it targets, implying that it has the potential to create public harm or injury to the person's standing in the community.

In contrast, while statements aimed at public figures and criticism of policies may encompass elements of defamation, these do not fit the legal criteria for slander. A written defamatory statement would instead be categorized as libel, which pertains to written communication rather than spoken. Thus, choice B succinctly captures the essence of slander as it directly addresses the verbal nature of the act and its focus on character or integrity.