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Ohio Libel & Slander Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Divorce and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: My wife is looking to leave and is spreading lies about me.

If and when this goes to court, how do i defend against the lies?

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Mar 22, 2018

The court can issue an order not to make any statements about each other. During the divorce, if one spouse has made false statements relevant in the divorce, the other spouse can give testimony and evidence to refute those statements. Until a divorce is filed, it is more difficult to stop such... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Can i sue a patients family member for saying i was under the influence.

I been taken off work without pay until drug test comes back. This is hurting my income.

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Feb 26, 2018

Use the Find a lawyer tab to consult a local litigation attorney to review the facts and advise you.

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Will i have a difficult case to make against a bully suing me for defamation if I mentioned what he did to me in a book?

He called me a racial slur in high school and I wanted to put his name and what he did in the dedication section of a book I want to publish. We were the only witnesses in the situation and I haven't spoken to him since high school. I also kept the situation to myself because of how much it... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 20, 2018

It would be difficult for him to make out a case for defamation, but he could sue you and make your life miserable for a while. Have you considered telling the story and just changing his name?

1 Answer | Asked in Identity Theft, Landlord - Tenant, Libel & Slander and Social Security for Ohio on
Q: Yes i was staying with some peaple i thought was my friends but have been robbing me for years and i was month to month

I was paying 400 a month to his mom when i left 2 weeks ago i told them i would b back to get my stuff but been sick under doctors orders and let them know and now they said i cant have my stuff no clothes i have none all my sons stuff from when he was little and household things they kept it all i... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Feb 19, 2018

File a police report. They might help. Or contact your local legal aid, or sue the landlord in small claims court for wrongful eviction and the value of your things and the cost to find alternate living arrangements.

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander and Civil Litigation for Ohio on
Q: If I send a letter to my mom and her husbands church with information on them, can they sue me? The church should know.

The letter would involve information on their lives, marriages, infidelities, and they are in leadership roles in their church. They have a right to know what is going on in their church, and I would like to send it to the pastor, as well as the leader of the ladies group. But, I am afraid they... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Feb 5, 2018

Anyone can sue anybody for anything. So yes, they can sue you, and a court could order you to pay them significant monetary damages.

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: I was in a car accident a few days ago. I was at fault. Both parties stated no injury.

The other person involved in the car crash stated that he was not injured, and was not insured. He got out of the car himself, was walking around just fine, declined any help (ie. Ambulance and such). No pain according to him. Told the state tropper this as well. He is now making an injury claim on... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 17, 2018

Let your insurance handle it. They are pros. I'll note that often people don't feel pain after the wreck because of adrenalin, they are freaked out and want to get home, etc. So it's not necessarily bogus, and your insurance company is very used to denying claims they think are... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander and Traffic Tickets for Ohio on
Q: I was previously pulled over for a traffic violation. Which lead to my car being searched because of a weed smell.

The cop asked if he could search the vehicle. I allowed him. He said he found a roach in my ash tray. He then said that if there's anymore weed in the car you might as well tell me because I will find it. He found the other weed in a bag and took it for evidence and gave me a ticket and a... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Dec 20, 2017

It sounds to me like he forgot to bag the roach. It doesn't mean anything really.

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Health Care Law and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: My doctor office dismissed me as a patient for argumentative language. I was just persistent and sought correct info

never abusive but persistent. Now when I seek another doctor and give my previous doctor's name they are telling

negative stories to potential new doctors & offices so I do not get another doctor. They also are making my records available to other non-related doctor offices. Is... View More

Joseph Jaap
Joseph Jaap
answered on Aug 3, 2017

Depending on the reason your medical information was released, it could be a HIPAA violation. Find out what was released and to whom. If not proper, then you would need to consult a local attorney to review all the facts and determine if you have any claims. Use the Find a Lawyer tab.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, International Law and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Can I be sued from someone outside the US?

I am located in the USA. Someone living in Spain, is threatening to sue me for "defamation" in regards to something I wrote about them on my personal Twitter account. Can they sue me from their country, and aren't my opinions written on my personal Twitter account protected by the... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 6, 2017

Free speech protections do not apply to defamation, and opinions are not defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact (not opinion) that damages a person's reputation. If I say John the surgeon is the worst, I am not uttering defamation because that's my opinion of John. If say... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Contracts, Libel & Slander and Small Claims for Ohio on
Q: Arrangement leading to agreement of leaving my pers. prop. (set period) to obtain later. He refuse to contact, or return

Ohio; Athens Co.

I left my personals and my dog (Chance, of 11 yrs) for an mutual set period of time (7mo) as part of our agreed, arrangement. I also on my part, agreed on my making a monetary exchange for safe keeping, most important was (paper work, legal doc's, colleagues ppr... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 28, 2017

Have you called the police? Have you considered hiring a lawyer to write a demand letter and potentially file a complaint?

1 Answer | Asked in Elder Law, Libel & Slander, Personal Injury and Wrongful Death for Ohio on
Q: I am on Ohio Mediciad. I am being forced out of the nursing home by the Area on Aging to a group home. Can they do this?

Oct 2015, I fell attached to my power-chair onto the street because the city had not officially closed the sidewalk and I was trying to get to my apartment where I have lived independently for 20 years. I am severely disabled but have worked to be independent. I became unconscious with a head... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jan 25, 2017

You have two issues. One is a claim against the city or the owner of the property.You need to contact a member of the Ohio Assn for Justice in your area --they give free consultations. You can explain your injuries. You then can ask about this issue but I don't see that they can do much in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: I'm an ex felon, and my mother in law keeps slandering me to my neighbors and my wife's employers. what can I do?

She has gone as far as yelling to my neighbors about my past crimes and has even shouted them out to everyone at my wife's place of buisness. These people already know my past as I am open and honest about it but I fear it will start hurting my social and possibly work life. What can I do?

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Jul 6, 2016

If what she is saying is merely the truth about your past, you can't do anything. Truth is an absolute defense to defamation.

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law and Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Do I have any recourse when my ex (his father) falsely accuses me of molesting my son?

My 20 yr. old son had breakfast with his father and his aunt (father's sister) a few days ago. Being too embarrassed to tell me he sent a text message stating that his father said that when he was younger I used to "put my mouth on his penis and his father would get mad at me." This... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Apr 18, 2016

A defamation lawsuit requires three things: a lie someone is likely to have believed, publication, and damages resulting from the lie. Publication means letting a third-party know. Damages are where you will likely have a problem. If you were fired because of this, you might have a case, but there... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: I am being defamed by a store owner in Elyria Ohio, what are my options?

I used to volunteer at this store (Kieths Comics} for more than a year, the last day I was working I had limited work space due to a customer and set books I purchased on a books I was thinking of getting, I got distracted and forgot the books were piled together when I put them in my bag while... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Mar 1, 2016

You don't have many good options here. Is this not something you two can work out?

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Ohio girl is sending messages to girls in Florida-on a dating site-warning them of a male dating member. He has DV

Charges that includes hurting a child. She is only saying if u r in contact with a male who fits this physical/job description, then whenu get his name, check against these court links. So, cour links and description are given. No opinions,nothing that isn't in public records. Is warning these... View More

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 8, 2015

I've answered this question several times already. It is not slander, if it is true and it is not illegal to provide people with truthful information from the public records. The answer isn't going to change.

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander for Ohio on
Q: Sis in OH sending dating members in FL physical/job description &court links of male member who has DV charges.illegal?

She is not listing his name,only physical description and job details,saying if this sounds like your date,check his name on these links. Can she be charged with slander/harrasement? Everything written is factual per public records,no opinions or degrading of ex

Matthew Williams
Matthew Williams
answered on Feb 7, 2015

The information is public and true so this is not slander or libel. Truth is an absolute defense to both. There is little chance this qualifies as harassment either as the telecommunication is not being made to the male member or his household and is not being made with a purpose to harass or... View More

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