Perceptions and emotional responses are not always factual realities. Media members are human and can give into impulses to make inflammatory statements and falsely label and defame people who upset them, as Carron Phillips, a writer at Deadspin allegedly did to a boy and his family. Here's what happened, what's going on and what's likely ahead.

The smear campaign: Most people never see it coming and never would have imagined it would happen to them. But it did. And it can.

Is Netflix in trouble over its storytelling in the show, "Baby Reindeer?" Did the company and show defame Fiona Harvey?

A $170 million lawsuit is in the courts for defamation of Harvey's reputation. Reputation Intelligence examines the case.

Rebecca Scofield (pictured) is dumfounded and angry about someone she doesn’t know claiming Scofield is involved in the murders of four University students at the school where she teaches.

She’s thus filed a defamation lawsuit.

Will it successfully help defend her name and reputation and protect her future well being?

This article and analysis examines this story.