Frisco, TX asked in Libel & Slander for Texas

Q: Can I sue if I am facing slander in Texas.

One of my acquaintances is calling people around and spreading slander about me. He has called me a prostitute in front of a witness. I want to know my legal options against this person and how to put a stop to it immediately. I thought of getting an injunction or cease and desist order but as per the Texas legal system, I dont know whats appropriate. This has caused me immense emotional distress. I have nightmares and I am under anti depressant and anti anxiety medication. I am also going to therapy. I need to take some action against the defendant who is spreading slander.

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2 Lawyer Answers

A: Yes, you can sue. You will need to prove that someone actually believed the slanderous statement made about you and took some sort of adverse action that caused you to sustain damages. For example, if an employer heard and believed the slanderous statement and fired you, you likely could recover lost wages.

Because this type of claim isn't usually covered by insurance, expect that you will have to pay an attorney a reasonable hourly fee to pursue such an action on your behalf. Whether that makes sense or not depends on the amount of damages you can prove.

A: False and harmful statements could be considered slander. But as a practical matter, pursuing such a matter could involve paying an attorney legal fees - win or lose. Good luck

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