Q: I was threatened by someone without cause.
I was across the street when a man came out of his house and approached me with great hostility and accused me of theft from his property. I walk this road twice a day and I have never been on his property. What recourse do I have?
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A: If you have been unjustly threatened and falsely accused of theft in Michigan, you may have grounds to pursue a defamation claim, particularly if the false statements were spoken. Defamation laws in Michigan aim to protect individuals from false spoken statements that harm their reputation. To pursue such a claim, you generally need to establish elements such as a false statement, publication to others, and resulting harm to your reputation. To address this situation, document the incident, gather witnesses if available, and avoid retaliatory actions. If false accusations persist and cause reputational harm
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