Legal Definitions - excess of privilege

Definition: Excess of privilege refers to the act of publishing a privileged statement beyond the limits of the privilege.

Example: A journalist publishes a statement about a public figure that is protected by the First Amendment's freedom of the press. However, the journalist goes too far and publishes personal information that is not relevant to the story, such as the public figure's medical history or family issues. This is an example of excess of privilege.

Explanation: The journalist had the privilege to publish the statement under the First Amendment's freedom of the press. However, the journalist exceeded the limits of the privilege by including personal information that was not relevant to the story. This is considered an abuse of the privilege and can result in legal consequences.