Defamation – Model Utah Jury Instructions

Posted: December 16, 2022

Civil Jury Instructions – Defamation; Pretrial Delay – Comment period expires January 15, 2023

The Committee Notes to the following Model Utah Civil Jury Instruction addressing Defamation have been updated and published.

CV1607 – Definition: Defamatory

The following Model Utah Civil Jury Instruction addressing pretrial delay has been drafted and published.

CV135 – Pretrial Delay

Please reference the instruction(s) in your comments. Although the comment period runs through January 15, 2023, the instructions are ready for use. The Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee will consider all comments made during the comment period and may revise the instructions as appropriate. To view all MUJI Civil instructions please visit the MUJI website – here.

The Judicial Council also encourages judges and practitioners to continuously share their experiences using any of the published instructions with the Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee. To view the Committee’s work please visit the MUJI Civil Committee website – here.

Posted: August 9, 2022

Civil Jury Instructions – Defamation; Boundary by Acquiescence – Comment period expires Sept. 9, 2022

The following Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions addressing Defamation have been updated and published.

CV1602 – Elements of a Defamation Claim

CV1605 – Definition: False Statement

The following Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions addressing boundary by Acquiescence have been drafted and published.

CV901 – Boundary by Acquiescence

CV902 – Visible Line

CV903 – Occupy Defined

CV904 – Mutual Acquiescence

CV905 – Exception to Silence Equaling Acquiescence

Please reference the instruction(s) in your comments. Although the comment period runs through March 27, 2021, the instructions are ready for use. The Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee will consider all comments made during the comment period and may revise the instructions as appropriate. To view all MUJI Civil instructions please visit the MUJI website – here.

The Judicial Council also encourages judges and practitioners to continuously share their experiences using any of the published instructions with the Model Civil Jury Instructions Committee. To view the Committee’s work please visit the MUJI Civil Committee website – here.

Posted: June 27, 2016

Civil Jury Instructions: Defamation (2016-08-11)

The following proposed model Utah civil jury instructions address defamation:

CV1601 – Introductory Notes to Practitioners (not to be read to the jury).
CV1602 – Elements of a Defamation Claim.
CV1603 – Definition: Publication.
CV1604A – Definition: About the Plaintiff – Public Figure or Public Official Plaintiff – Connection to Plaintiff is Reasonable.
CV1604B – Definition: About the Plaintiff – Private Plaintiff – Matter of Public Concern – Connection to Plaintiff is Reasonable.
CV1604C – Definition: About the Plaintiff – Private Plaintiff – No Matter of Public Concern – Connection to Plaintiff is Reasonable – Negligence.
CV1604D – Definition: About the Plaintiff – Private Plaintiff – No Matter of Public Concern – Connection to Plaintiff is Reasonable – Strict Liability.
CV1604E – Definition: About the Plaintiff – Connection to Plaintiff is Unreasonable.
CV1605 – Definition: False Statement.
CV1606 – Definition: Opinion.
CV1607 – Definition: Defamatory.
CV1608 – Conditional Privilege.
CV1609 – Non-actionable Statements.
CV1610 – Definition: Requisite Degree of Fault – Private Figure – Matter of Public Concern.
CV1611 – Definition: Requisite Degree of Fault –Public Official or Public Figure.
CV1612 – Group Defamation Rule.
CV1613 – Causation.
CV1614 – Presumed Damages.
CV1615 – Damages – Economic Damages.
CV1616 – Damages – Noneconomic Damages.
CV1617 – Damages – Punitive Damages – Public Figure/Official and/or Issue of Public Concern.
CV1618 – Damages – Effect of Retraction.
CV1619 – Affirmative Defense – Consent.
CV1620 – Affirmative Defense – Statute of Limitations.

Click here to view a pdf version of proposed Model Utah Civil Jury Instructions 1601-1620.

Please reference the instruction number(s) in your comments.