Which of the following is an example of defamation?

Defamation is defined as making a false statement about someone that damages their reputation. In this context, announcing that an insurance company is insolvent without any truth behind the claim directly harms the company's public standing and credibility. This action could mislead consumers and negatively impact the company’s financial stability by affecting their customer base and trust in the market.

The act of making a false public declaration about the financial health of an insurance company is a clear example of defaming the company, as it disrupts the perception of trustworthiness and reliability that is vital in the insurance industry. By stating that the company is insolvent when it is not, the producer is spreading harmful misinformation.

Other options do present negative actions related to insurance practices but do not fit the strict definition of defamation. For example, filing a false claim for insurance is fraud; providing misleading information about policy benefits relates more to deceptive practices rather than defamation; and failing to disclose relevant policy details could be considered a lack of transparency but does not directly harm an entity's reputation in a public manner.