Any living person.[4] Unlike property rights, which survive death and can be passed on to heirs, personal rights, including the right to reputation, die with the individual.[5]
A corporation. A corporation can sue for libel to vindicate its corporate reputation or the reputation of its product.
An unincorporated association, organization or society, including a labor union, charitable foundation or fraternal organization. Suits by such groups are uncommon. However, it is possible for a religious or charitable organization, for example, to sue if a news story damages its ability to raise money or attract members.
Agencies and units of government — cities, counties, states, the U.S. government — may not sue for libel. Because in a democratic society citizens have the right to criticize and comment upon their government, courts consistently have held that governments cannot be defamed. However, individual government officials and employees can — and do — sue for libel when they feel their individual reputations are harmed by news stories.
[4] N.C. Gen. Stat. §28A-18-1 (2011); Gilliken v. Bell, 254 N.C. 244, 118 S.E.2d 609 (1961).
[5] See Restatement (Second) of Torts § 560 (1977).
