LEV477 Defamatory speech is an important thing to avoid as much as possible, but there are some very clear exceptions to the prohibition. One exception occurs when failure to defame the person will result in harm to someone else. If someone routinely defrauds customers, for example, you are duty-bound to warn potential victims and to inform the authorities, however negative your report may be. In fact, as a general rule, when failure to disclose a financial or physical abuse to the proper authorities will result in continued illegal activities, the victim and anyone who notices the wrongdoing are obliged to report such activities. Even though that will inevitably defame the abuser, such action is not only permissible but mandatory when it is done in an effort to prevent harm to oneself or someone else.