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Free defamation damages calculator for actual economic loss, general reputational harm, punitive sensitivity, case strength, and defense risk. Use with other Legal & Compliance tools—illustrative only, not legal advice.
Last updated: April 19, 2026
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Lost income, contracts, clients, or out-of-pocket costs tied to the statement.
Illustrative non-economic harm; proof standards and caps vary widely.
Punitive awards require proof and constitutional limits; this is a sensitivity only.
Truth, privilege, anti-SLAPP, lack of harm—illustrative reduction (0–50%).
Actual economic
$38,000
General / reputation
$62,000
Compensatory subtotal
$100,000
Punitive (illustrative)
$50,000
Gross illustrative total
$150,000
After strength & defense risk
$93,600
Range low
$76,752
Range high
$104,832
Formula summary
Compensatory $100,000 (actual $38,000 + general $62,000) + punitive (0.5× compensatory = $50,000) = $150,000 × moderate case × 80% defense adjustment
Illustrative gross ~$150,000; after moderate case strength and defense risk, ~$93,600. Planning band about $76,752 – $104,832.
Important:
Best for
Early negotiation
Compare punitive multiples before discussing releases or retractions.
Best for
Reputation harm
Adjust general damages to reflect conservative vs stronger narratives.
Best for
Expectations
Economics, generals, punitive sensitivity, and defense risk knobs.
Best for
Exposure bands
Raise defense risk to see downward pressure on the band.
Best for
Risk vs cost
Use alongside a litigation cost estimator for a fuller picture.
Remember
Deadlines
Statutes of limitations and anti-SLAPP timing can end claims if missed.
$38k actual, $62k general, 0.5× punitive on compensatory, moderate strength, 20% defense risk:
After adjustments
$93,600
Illustrative range
$76,752 – $104,832
Compensatory damages combine actual economic loss and general reputational harm. Punitive damages are modeled as a multiple of the compensatory subtotal—an informal sensitivity only. The gross total is scaled by case strength and reduced for defense risk, then shown with a negotiation band.
Compensatory = actual economic + general harmPunitive ≈ multiplier × compensatoryGross = compensatory + punitiveAdjusted = gross × strength × (100% − defense %)Publication, falsity, harm—then constitutional limits and privileges
Illustrative recovery after strength and defense risk: $93,600; negotiation-style band $76,752 – $104,832.
Constitutional punitive ratios and fee awards are not included—consult an attorney.
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