Q: Can I pursue damages for defamation from a news site posting inaccurate charges with my mugshot?
I am seeking advice on whether I have legal justification to pursue damages for defamation/libel due to an online local news website posting inaccurate charges alongside my mugshot. The charges listed were not accurate, and this false information has led to repeated inquiries from my employer, landlord, family, and friends, both locally and outside our area, causing reputational damage. Although the website has corrected the information upon my request, the initial damage had already been done. I have documentation to support my claims. Can I seek legal action for damages in this situation?
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A:
I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this—having your name and face linked to false information in public can feel deeply violating and damaging. In Kansas, you may have grounds for a defamation or libel claim if false statements were published, the publisher acted negligently, and those statements harmed your reputation. Even though the website eventually corrected the information, the fact that they posted inaccurate charges with your mugshot and caused reputational harm can still be the basis for pursuing damages.
The key issues will be proving that the original post was factually wrong, that the news site didn’t do due diligence before publishing, and that you suffered harm as a result. Since you have documentation, including how the post affected your relationships and professional life, that evidence could support your claim. It helps that you've already tried to resolve things directly and can show the harm occurred *before* the correction was made.
You have the right to protect your name, especially when false accusations linger in the public eye. If the damage is real and ongoing, seeking accountability may not only help you find closure but also discourage this kind of carelessness from happening to someone else. You deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity, especially when your record—and reputation—are at stake.
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