While you’re right, that damages are an important factor, it’s worth noting that these don’t have to be strictly limited to direct monetary damages. For exampl

While you’re right, that damages are an important factor, it’s worth noting that these don’t have to be strictly limited to direct monetary damages. For example, Jones was defaulted on intentional infliction of emotional distress. The jury’s compensatory damages were heavily weighted to IIED. So the damages can be abstract in some sense. But yes, generally defamation requires both material false statements of fact, and damages to a specific party.