A form of publication which tends to cause one to lose the esteem of the community is defamation. This is injury to reputation. A person can be held liable for the defamation of another. In order to prove defamation, the plaintiff must prove:
- that a statement was made about the plaintiff's reputation, honesty or integrity that is not true;
- publication to a third party (i.e., another person hears or reads the statement); and
- the plaintiff suffers damages as a result of the statement.
Slander is a form of defamation that consists of making false oral statements about a person which would damage that person's reputation. If one spreads a rumor that his neighbor has been in jail and this is not true, the person making such false statements could be held liable for slander.
Defamation which occurs by written statements is known as libel. Libel also may result from a picture or visual representation. Truth is an absolute defense to slander or libel.
Some statements, while libelous or slanderous, are absolutely privileged in the sense that the statements can be made without fear of a lawsuit for slander. The best example is statements made in a court of law. An untrue statement made about a person in court which damages that person's reputation will generally not cause liability to the speaker as far as slander is concerned. However, if the statement is untrue, the person making it may be liable for criminal perjury.
If a communication is made in good faith on a subject in which the party communicating it has a legitimate right or interest in communicating it, this communication may be exempt from slander liability due to a qualified privileged.
The following form letter demands that someone cease making libelous or slanderous statements, or appropriate legal action will be taken.
Defaming Someone On Facebook In Phoenix
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State:
Multi-State
City:
Phoenix
Control #:
US-00423BG
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Word;
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FAQ
Ask them to remove it - if they are spreading false statements that could harm you. If they do not, report the posts to Facebook. If they are spreading true things, just unfollow/unfriend/block/ignore.
Send a cease and desist letter for defamation One of the steps a lawyer might recommend when dealing with slander on social media is sending a cease and desist letter. A cease and desist letter on social media is a document that formally requests the author to stop engaging in defamatory or harmful behavior.
In Arizona, “one who publishes a false and defamatory communication concerning a private person, or concerning a public official or public figure in relation to a private matter, is subject to liability, if, but only if, he (a) knows that the statement is false and it defames the other, (b) acts in reckless disregard ...
You can complain to Facebook about the defamatory statements, for all the good it might do. Otherwise, if you can prove that the business knows the statements to be false and is making them with malice (Ie the intent to materially damage you), that's libel and you have some legal remedies available to you.
The answer is yes, but you have to meet each of the four legal elements that define defamation of character. Your lawyer also has to present convincing evidence not only that the defendant made defamatory statements on Facebook but also that the statement has damaged your personal and/or professional reputation.
At common law, a libel plaintiff has the onus of proving on a balance of probabilities: (1) the impugned expression would tend to lower his or her reputation in the eyes of a reasonable person; (2) the expression referred to the plaintiff; and (3) the expression was communicated to at least one person other than the ...
How to Sue for Defamation in Arizona Step 1: Seek Legal Counsel. If you believe you have a defamation case, it is essential to consult an experienced defamation lawyer in Arizona. Step 2: Gather Evidence. Step 3: Identify the Responsible Party. Step 4: Send a Cease and Desist Letter. Step 5: File a Lawsuit.
A defamatory statement available on the Internet could arguably prompt a stratospheric damage award because of the huge, worldwide audience. Canadian courts have shown they are not willing to tie damages to the Internet's potential audience without proper proof.
Negative statements about people or companies appear frequently on social media sites, such as Twitter and Facebook. If they are false statements of fact, they can be considered defamation in some circumstances, or more specifically libel because they are written statements.
Address It Directly: If appropriate, consider confronting the person spreading the slander. Approach them calmly and express how their words have affected you. Sometimes, a direct conversation can resolve misunderstandings. Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or colleagues about the situation.
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If you would like to report a post you believe is defamatory, you can fill out this form. The answer is yes, but you have to prove the elements that define defamation of character.This form is only intended for reporting content posted on Facebook that you believe is defamatory. Call us at or fill out our contact form online to schedule your free case evaluation. Send a demand letter to the posting Facebook user, explaining the problems with the content and requesting removal.
