Full question:
I mailed a letter to my ex-boyfriends employer in March of this year. The letter informed his boss of stealing money from the company. Everything in the letter was true. Four months later my ex was laid off from his job. He has found out I did mail this letter to his employer. He told me yesterday he is filing a slander/libel suit against me. PLEASE HELP ME. I am worth over a million dollars-----can he get any of my money in court from a judge and how long does something like this take? I AM SO UPSET!!!!! I can't sleep
- Category: Civil Actions
- Subcategory: Defamation
- Date:
- State: Florida
Answer:
Timeframes for lawsuits can vary widely depending on the case and court schedule. Often, cases are dismissed or settled before going to trial.
If your letter contained only true information, it is not considered defamation. Defamation involves communication that harms someone's reputation, such as causing shame or loss of employment. Libel and slander are specific types of defamation.
For a statement to be classified as libel, it must meet these criteria:
1. It must be a defamatory statement.
2. It must be published to third parties.
3. The speaker must have known or should have known it was false.
4. It must have caused injury to the plaintiff.
Defamation is challenging to prove, as courts consider various factors, including how thoroughly the defendant investigated the truth of the statement. If you had a reasonable belief that your statement was true, damages are less likely to be awarded. The amount of damages is determined by the court based on the specifics of each case.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.