Truth, or substantial truth, is a complete defense to a claim of defamation.
Building Your Defamation Case The first step is to issue a letter under the Defamation Act. You could think of this as a cease and desist letter but its technical name is a concerns notice. If the behaviour does not stop and no apology is given, the next step is to commence court proceedings.
How to Respond Legally to Defamation. Responding to defamation requires a strategic approach: Send a Cease and Desist Letter: Often, a formal letter from a lawyer indicating the defamatory nature of the statements and demanding their cessation can resolve the issue.
Immediate Steps to Take When Accused of Defamation Stay calm and assess the situation. Consult with an experienced defamation attorney. Preserve all evidence related to the accusation. Evaluate the validity of the claims. Seek alternatives to litigation when possible. Prepare a public response if necessary.
In some cases, you may be able to defend against a defamation claim by publicly retracting the statement and apologizing for it. The retraction likely would need to occur in the same place as the original statement.