One with a reputation to defend

• Object of a scurrilous attack, maybe
• Defendant in a law case
• Defendant in a defamation case
• Defendant in a defamation suit
• Defendant, in admiralty law
• Defamation suit defendant
• Defamation suit party
• One who's disparaged

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
alt. party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant n. party against which a libel (hostile handbill) has been filed by a libelant