Defamation of Character

[lonelyfarmgirl]

Has anyone on here ever sued someone or been sued by someone for defamation of character? Slander more specifically? I would like to know what happened and how it went.
We are dealing with an issue concerning this right now.

[Darren]

Originally Posted by lonelyfarmgirl

Has anyone on here ever sued someone or been sued by someone for defamation of character? Slander more specifically? I would like to know what happened and how it went.
We are dealing with an issue concerning this right now.

Unless you have a boat load of money it's highly doubtful you'll be able to interest any lawyer.

[Lada]

Originally Posted by Darren

Unless you have a boat load of money it's highly doubtful you'll be able to interest any lawyer.

Yep! And it's often not worth YOUR time either. I'm sure your feelings are hurt, but unless someone said something that was a complete lie, and it has affected you financially (as in your ability to obtain or maintain employment) it's doubtful it's worth it, for the lawyer or you.

[oregon woodsmok]

It's extremely expensive to sue and a lawsuit can swing either way. It is not guaranteed that you will win, and if you lose, you have to pay the other guy's expenses and probably damages on top of it.

You can't sue for hurt feelings. You have to show actual damages.

In order to know about suing with your local laws, you are going to have to go and speak to a lawyer.

If someone has threatened to sue you, you still need to speak to a lawyer. Then stop badmouthing that person starting immediately. While the truth is the ultimate defense against a slander charge, it is darn expensive to go to court and prove your were telling the truth.

[Sawmill Jim]

Originally Posted by Darren

Unless you have a boat load of money it's highly doubtful you'll be able to interest any lawyer.

Big boat And the other side needs the same in case you win

[PyroDon]

I got a slander suit threatened but since everything I said was true and I had proof to back it up they never followed through with filing .
gotta love time dates and digital recordings , Game cameras are great too

[big rockpile]

I lived in a small town of 300 a Woman at the Post Office was reading my mail spreading around town who I was writing to and what was in the Letters word for word.My next door neighbor told me,it caused bunch of trouble in my marriage and it was one reason I had to leave town.

I sued won a Good sum but yes I had a Good Lawyer.

big rockpile

[lonelyfarmgirl]

We have an attorney, my husband is the victim, and yes we can prove damages. I know the possibilities, I am only interested in hearing about others experience in this.

[Alice In TX/MO]

But, Rockpile.... was that suit about defamation or about opening mail that wasn't hers?

[big rockpile]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

But, Rockpile.... was that suit about defamation or about opening mail that wasn't hers?

It was more of her messing up my marriage and the way the community felt about me.But yes opening my mail was the biggy.

big rockpile

[TxHorseMom]

It is my understanding (and I'm no lawyer) that to win in a slander suit you must prove $$ damages directly resulting from the alleged slander. Also the slander MUST be a total untruth. An example my govt professor gave (and he was/is a lawyer) is this (This example is not child friendly, and if you have delicate ears, or in this case eyes do not read further) "If you said that my professor had marital relations with sheep, and he said 'that's not true! I had relations with a goat!' It is still essentially true, and that is not slander. You must also prove that you lost money, ie income due to the alleged slander, such as you were fired from a job, or you weren't hired for a job due to the alleged slander." Hope that helps.