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 Character Form For Court In Travis
Category:
State:
Multi-State
County:
Travis
Control #:
US-00423BG
Format:
Word;
Rich Text
Instant download
Description
Form popularity
FAQ
To set a hearing, contact the Court Operations Officer at (512) 854-9241. It is recommended that you consult an attorney or have an attorney represent you.
The claim can be for no more than $20,000, excluding statutory interest and court costs but including attorney fees, if any. For information on how to sue in Small claims court.
You can E-File using this link: eFileTexas | Official E-Filing System for Texas, mail to Travis County District Clerk, PO Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767 or hand deliver documents to us by appointment only. Call (512) 854-9457 or send an email to District.eFile@traviscountytx for any questions.
What Happens if I Lose My Small Claims Case? If the judgment is in favor of the defendant, you can file a motion for new trial within 14 days of the judgment. That means that you want a “do over” in the same justice court. You would need to show that justice wasn't done in the original case.
You can E-File using this link: eFileTexas | Official E-Filing System for Texas, mail to Travis County District Clerk, PO Box 679003, Austin, TX 78767 or hand deliver documents to us by appointment only. Call (512) 854-9457 or send an email to District.eFile@traviscountytx for any questions.
You can file your mechanics liens with the Travis County Clerk's Recording Division by postal mail, by courier, or in person. The County Clerk also accepts electronic filings of documents from an authorized eRecording submitter.
To set a hearing, contact the Court Operations Officer at (512) 854-9241. It is recommended that you consult an attorney or have an attorney represent you.
