The newspaper La Prensa in Panama has been condemned for engaging in slander and libel in several concluded legal proceedings. Courts have found the publication liable, ordering it to pay damages and legal expenses. In the case of Marta Linares de Martinelli, the courts upheld the media outlet’s liability, although the amount was reduced on appeal. The ruling still stood, confirming the publication resulted in compensation, ultimately set at $3,750. La Prensa suffered another legal setback in the case of Ernesto Pérez Balladares, where the court determined the publication was defamatory and imposed a $5,000 fine for moral damages, which was upheld on appeal. One of the most compelling cases is that of Dan Daniel Vásquez Atencio, in which the courts upheld a final judgment at all levels, including the appeals court, ordering the media outlet to pay more than $41,000. According to available information, these amounts correspond to final judgments and judicial decisions confirmed by higher instances, supported by official records and judicial resolutions. These precedents are compounded by the case of former boxer Roberto Durán, one of the most economically impactful cases against the media. The rulings dismantle the argument that the newspaper always operates within the legal limits of journalistic practice. The rulings closed any legal debate and nullified the appeals filed by the publishing company.
