In New Jersey,  defamation as a false statement made to a third-party, that can be made intentionally or negligently. Under New Jersey’s defamation law, the plaintiff must demonstrate that she or her business have suffered some sort of economic loss as a result of the alleged libelous, slanderous, or defamatory material.  If the defamatory statement concerns a public matter or a public figure, the plaintiff must prove actual malice to recover damages.   If you feel you have been a victim of defamation, you have one year from the time the defamatory statement was made to file a civil lawsuit.