Can Killian's family sue Rather for libel?
They can probably get a lawyer to say 'You have items that are purportedly PRIVATE PROPERTY of Col. Killian and I want a full list of what you have thay MAY be his property and how you came to have these stolen items!'. Then they would have to cop to the fakes or face receiving stolen property.
No. Libel does not survive death; you can say whatever you want about dead people.
Stoudt, on the other hand, might well have a suit for defamation. But from what I know of his character, he'd never pursue it.
I saw the son on some interview the other day and he said he would rather just let it go, but of cour$e, he could allway$ change hi$ mind.