Q: My reputation was affected by a spiteful alumni correspondent. Do I have a case?
I lost close friends and have been depressed as a result of his actions.
A: I'm sorry for the ordeal you experienced. It would be difficult for any attorney to answer a simple "yes" or "no" as to whether you have a case. In terms of legal elements, one could meet the elements of a defamation action in terms of being the victim of a false statement, published to another party, where they suffer damages as a result. But in terms of practical aspects, defamation cases, like other intentional tort cases, are not generally handled on a contingency basis the way tort cases based on negligence are handled. That could mean paying a law firm on an hourly basis, win or lose, and sometimes it could be costly to establish some elements of a case. To really get an answer to your question as to whether you have a case, and whether the case would be cost-effective to pursue, you could reach out to law firms that handle defamation cases to discuss in further detail. Good luck
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