Q: Should I contact a stores corporate office or have my attorney do it?
Im trying to file a lawsuit against a store for defamation of character and slander. I have a very solid case, but if their corporate office would like to offer me a generous compensation to me instead of me taking this to court and filing a lawsuit against them Id consider doing that. My question is should I first contact their corporate office myself and speak with them myself or should I wait until I have an attorney present who can speak with the stores corporate office and see if they want to avoid this lawsuit against them by compensating me?
A:
Calling them is a complete waste of time. Unless you can prove substantial damages as a result of these personal claims you will not be able to interest a personal injury lawyer because they are looking for large damages.
I strongly suggest you "test the water" by hiring a very experienced employment lawyer first, and pay them some very reasonable amount (less than $300) to review your case and then write the defendant a strong letter. If might not work; but then again, you will never know unless you try; right?
A: With or without an attorney, you will need to present a presuit claim in writing to be taken seriously. The claim would then be turned over to either their lawyer/legal dept. or their insurance company. If I were you, I would at least consult an attorney to review the facts and damages to determine if your claim might be entertained without filing suit. One of the factors there is the reasonableness of your demand. Another thing that is good to do in this situation is to request disclosure of the liability insurance policy.
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.
