The grapevine effect may be relied upon in assessing defamation damages where there is an evidential foundation from which an inference of repetition can be drawn, including the defendant's stated intention to repeat the defamation and the circumstances of a small community. A plaintiff in defamation need not prove actual damage to reputation; damages are awarded because the plaintiff was publicly defamed, not for proven reputational loss. Lay witness evidence of emotional distress is sufficient without corroborating medical evidence.
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