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.
Defamation Case Filing Format In Suffolk
Category:
State:
Multi-State
County:
Suffolk
Control #:
US-00423BG
Format:
Word;
Rich Text
Instant download
Description
Form popularity
FAQ
If you have specific questions about how to file a claim, your local court might be able to assist you. In some cases, you can get a complaint or petition form from the court or from the Trial Court's website. In other cases, there is no form and you will need to write the complaint or petition yourself.
Defendant Does Not Appear If the clerk calls your case on the calendar and the defendant does not answer and appear, the court will direct an inquest. This means the judge or arbitrator will hear your case even though the defendant is not present.
Except for when a government agency is sued, there is almost always at least one year from the date of an event to start a case no matter what type of claim it is. You should have no statute of limitations worries if you file your case within this one-year period.
A demand letter is sent as a courtesy or a reminder in most cases after other attempts have been exhausted and have failed and before any legal action is taken. It's usually forwarded to the recipient by certified mail, giving them a final chance to rectify the situation financially or otherwise.
Except as provided in subdivisions (2), (3) and (4), punishment for a contempt, specified in section seven hundred fifty, may be by fine, not exceeding one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment, not exceeding thirty days, in the jail of the county where the court is sitting, or both, in the discretion of the court.
The Elements of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree Refusing to be sworn as a witness or answering questions before a grand jury; Violating an order of protection by displaying a weapon to place another person in fear of physical injury; Violating an order of protection by stalking or harassing another person;
After a summons with notice is served, the defendant will demand that the plaintiff serve a complaint. The plaintiff must then have the complaint served within 20 days after being served with the demand, or the case may be dismissed. CPLR 3012(b).
Unlike other civil penalties, however, civil contempt of court can result in jail time.
To sue someone in Massachusetts, you have to file a complaint with the clerk of the court. A complaint is not a specific form. It is a document that contains a short statement of the facts showing your claim and why you are entitled to relief and a demand for judgment granting that relief.
To file a motion for contempt in New York, certain criteria must be met. There must be an existing order of the court that is clear and unambiguous, and the accused must be proven to have known about this order and willfully disobeyed it.
