Most Americans are familiar with defamation of character and slander. However, how many are familiar with libel slander? What is it exactly? This article is one that has been a long time coming, it is one that needs to be written.
Libel slander is established when an individual (or group) write maliciously about a person with the intent of destroying their name, image, and reputation. While it is not often an arrestable offense, it is still a crime. A person who is conducting such slander will often find ways to validate it.
If the slander, for example, is in regards to a court case, they may try to use documentation from that court, but only enough to establish the slander. For example, a police report. The issue in such documentation is the courts classify it as “hearsay” and thus it is not municiple. However, even with that in mind, it does not matter to the would-be criminal.
For a victim of such a crime, do you actually have any course of action? In the case of libel slander, yes. As long as you can establish that the information being written is false, you can file suit. However, bear in mind, you may also sue for defamation of character, also.
Defamation of character can be established when the libel slander, or any variation thereof, has caused loss. For example, if you are terminated from your place of employment. Once this has occured, you now have defamation of character as part of your lawsuit. It doesn’t stop there.
With an employment loss, you now have monetary loss, add loss of wages to the bucket. These abuses have psychological effects as well. With that, you now have mental/emotional trauma. If those close to you have been targets, they can file jointly with you.
As long as you have supporting evidence to back your claim, the court will most likely grant you a settlement. If the individual fails to pay, however, in time you could put a lean against their property. However, we are not attornies, please research this information before blindly following our helpful advice.