Can you sue a lawyer for slanderous statements?

Q: What legally qualifies as slander?

Slander is defined as making false oral statements about someone that damage their reputation. For a statement to qualify as slander, it must be false, made to a third party, and must cause harm. Statements that are opinions or true cannot be considered slanderous.

Full question:

I have a lawyer that makes statements in front of others that I feel is slander to my reputation. Can you sue a lawyer for such acts? Can this lawyer be held accountable through the legal system also.

Category: Civil Actions
Subcategory: Defamation
Date: 04/07/2025
State: Tennessee

Answer:

Slander involves making false oral statements that harm someone's reputation. If the statements are true, they cannot be considered slander. Additionally, opinions that do not assert facts are not slanderous. To prove slander, you must show that there was a defamatory statement made to third parties, and the speaker knew or should have known it was false.

If you think your attorney's statements violated the attorney-client relationship, you have several options. You could file a civil lawsuit against the attorney for breach of fiduciary duty or legal malpractice. You can also file a complaint with the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility.

Any breach of trust by an attorney can be seen as misconduct. For instance, if an attorney misuses client funds, it is a serious breach of trust. Attorneys must keep client funds separate from their own and cannot mingle them. Ethical codes require attorneys to maintain client confidentiality, and breaching this confidentiality is also considered misconduct. The law protects this confidentiality through attorney-client privilege, which can only be waived by the client in very limited circumstances, such as to prevent a criminal act that could cause imminent harm (Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.6 1983).

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.

FAQs

What proof is needed to sue for slander?

To sue for slander, you must prove that a false statement was made about you to a third party. This statement must have harmed your reputation. You also need to show that the person making the statement knew it was false or should have known it was false. Evidence can include witness testimonies, recordings, or any documentation that supports your claim.