Maggie tells all her coworkers that her neighbor Phyllis has been imprisoned for murder. Phyllis has not, however, even been accused of murder. Maggie is guilty of which of the following?

Maggie's actions fall under the definition of slander because she verbally communicated false information about Phyllis to her coworkers, suggesting that Phyllis has been imprisoned for murder. Slander specifically refers to the act of making false spoken statements that damage someone's reputation. In this instance, since no charges or accusations of murder exist against Phyllis, Maggie's claims are not only false but also potentially harmful to Phyllis's personal and professional life.

The other options do not apply in this context. Libel pertains to written statements rather than spoken ones, which is why it is not the correct answer. Malpractice implies a failure to fulfill a professional duty, usually in the context of medical or legal professionals, which does not relate to Maggie's situation. Assault refers to actual physical harm or the threat of harm, and there is no indication of physical violence in Maggie's actions. Therefore, slander is the appropriate designation for Maggie's behavior regarding the false allegations against Phyllis.