Q: Complicated one. Local mayor is accusing me of being the "brains" behind a fake email
He has fired my son that worked for the city in IT for not confessing that I did it. I did not. It appears that the mayor wants a friend of his appointed as city clerk. He had originally made the appointment but it came undone due to an email requesting open records on the job and appointee. Based on a copy of the open record report on my son and his firing, the city and police department actually know the person that did it but because there is no crime or not enough to force the individual to cross state lines, they are going after me through my son. I am a computer consultant and would by all mean be qualified to have done such but have no real motive. Relatively small town and I know all the parties involved but have no involvement myself other than originally looking at the email on the mayor's computer from my house per his request per my son. It created an ip address which we told the mayor it would. Civil rights violations? slander per se? Article in paper about me
A:
Contact a member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Assn who handles libel cases--they give free consultation. As what is being claimed if true wouldn't necessarily be bad--an open records request--then difficult to say if it is libelous. However to the extent there is a "false light" cast on you, yes. Get the free consult. As someone familiar with computers I am sure you know to not discuss this on open websites but also not to discuss it on facebook etc.
As to your son, he should contact a GTLA member who handles employment issues.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
