A "defamation" can be any form of "communication" . A communication is defamatory if it tends to expose a person to hatred, ridicule or contempt. If it harms the reputation so as to lower him/her in the estimation of the community or to deter others from dealing with him/her.
Therefore asking a question that would lower a person's (in this instance a body corporate ,or legal personna) esteem within a community or affect others from dealing with him would be libellous if untrue.
I am not a lawyer...just a smartass
