Liable vs libel

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Grammarist

Liable is an adjective which means (1.) legally obligated (2.) susceptible (3.) likely to do or experience something. Liable comes from the Anglo-French liable meaning to bind, tie up, tether, bind by obligation.

Libel is a published statement that is false, it defames the subject. Libel may be used as a noun or a verb, the American verb forms are libels, libeling and libeled. The British verb forms are libels, libelling and libelled. The American adjective form is libelous, the British adjective form is libellous. The adverb form is libelously. Libel first appears in the fourteenth century referring to a formal written statement or plaintiff’s statement of charges. It comes from the Old French libelle, meaning a small book, legal charge, claim, writ or written report.

Examples

The decision, handed down today, held that a Colorado bakery can be liable under Colorado anti-discrimination law for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, when it bakes similar cakes for traditional weddings. (The Washington Post)

Lawyers had claimed the low-cost Irish carrier could be liable for payouts of around £610m (€848m) after the firm lost a test case at Manchester County Court. (The Irish Independent)

In a judgment dated August 5, 2015, delivered by Poonam Malhotra for the Bench along with presiding officer N A Zaidi, and member Poonam Subhash Gupta, the Forum held both the banks liable to compensate Kashyapa. (Business Standard)

The Legal Aid Institute for the Press (LBH Pers) said on Thursday that the mass media should use the guidelines set out to in the prevailing journalistic code of ethics to avoid libel claims being drawn into criminal cases and court proceedings. (The Jakarta Post)

Blogger Michael Sy Lim, man behind the blog “Fashion Pulis,” was arrested on Tuesday over a libel charge filed by model Deniece Cornejo. (The Philipine Star)