A guard, in front of other shoppers, loudly accuses a customer of theft. Investigation reveals the customer was innocent. Civil Code §§44-46 most directly support which claim?

Explanation

Civil Code §44 defines defamation as either libel (written) or slander (oral). §46 lists slander per se categories — including false statements charging a person with crime — which require no proof of special damages. Loudly accusing a shopper of theft in front of others, when false, is the textbook slander per se case. Defenses include truth (absolute) and qualified privilege under §47(c) protecting communications made without malice to interested parties. But public, loud accusations to bystanders exceed any qualified-privilege scope and may also support intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. Best practice: keep accusations private and factually grounded.