Maryland Libel & Slander Questions & Answers
Q: What does a business have to prove for a defamation case in an online review?
This is the general rule:
Four elements must be present for a plaintiff to establish a prima facie case of
defamation, including that: “(1) . . . the defendant made a defamatory statement to a third
person, (2) . . . the statement was false, (3) . . . the defendant was... Read more »
Q: I recently terminated an employee. That employee has filed false BBB claim and libelous posts to FB. Is this criminal
employee made false claims that I am a "drug popping addict" as I recently underwent major surgery and was taking prescribed medication. She filed BBB claim that I asked her and other employees to come to my house and get me dressed, which is insanity. Can I sue her and/or put her in jail. Also... Read more »
It appears at first blush that the only potentially criminal action here would be the "gunning for [you]" comment- but that is susceptible to various interpretations. The rest is potentially a civil claim for defamation, but those cases are difficult and highly fact-specific. Another thing to... Read more »
Q: Hi there,I am a wedding photographer. On the day of a wedding I was suppose to shoot my husband and I were mugged.
We were taken to the hospital. My phone was one of the items stolen. I was not able to make it to the wedding or able to reach out to the couple until the next day. I agreed to pay the couple back in full due to the situation. The couple then went on every platform they could and wrote terrible... Read more »
Although truth is a defense to a claim of defamation, it is unclear what else your unhappy clients are telling people that might be actionable from a libel/defamation standpoint. There is also a basis to sue for “tortious interference with contractual business relations” if the disgruntled... Read more »
Q: traffic accident, involving a bump to another car, no damage to either car, but driver and son tried to claim injuries.
insurance company denied claim. I want to sue the driver and son for embarrassment, emotional distress, claiming fake injuries and filing fraudulent injury claims
You will never find a lawyer to take this claim and your chances of success are extremely low.
Q: Can a newstation publish my name in the paper for a vehicle accident without my permission?
Yes.
Q: Are all statements made under oath considered privileged statements
I'm thinking of filing a defamation suit
The question is unclear. No "privilege" attaches to a statement simply because it is made under oath. Many statements, including statements made for loan applications, for insurance applications, etc. will be made under oath.
If, however, the question wonders whether someone's in-court... Read more »
Q: Can I sue a company because it is retaliating against me by providing lies to future prospective employers?
Only because I left the company without giving notice, because I couldn't tolerate disparaging statements against my ethnicity?
If you complained of discrimination or harassment based on your ethnicity, yes, your employer may be held liable for retaliation if that's what motivated them to do so. The Supreme Court decided that issue in Robinson v. Shell Oil Co., 519 U.S. 337 (1997).
Q: i have quite a bazzar situation. can i sue the attorneys for deformation libel and slander?
i had a case that went on for a year in court... it went on and on despite uncountable amount of ethics and conduct violations and eventually all the petty lies from the opposing attorney harmed me enough to loose my case. it was 8 attorneys vrs. a pro se litigant, me. the lies have been about... Read more »
The real answer is I don't know because I don't know exactly what these lies are. But just generally speaking, this is a very tough claim to bring.
Q: Can a person be sued for telling an owner of a property that he saw a neighbor taking an object from his property?
The owner of the property asked the neighbor about his object and told the neighbor that a person told him about it.
The neighbor denied to have taken the object and threatened to sue the person who accused him.
The neighbor does not know what the person who accused him told the... Read more »
You have not given enough solid facts here for an answer in my opinion, other than perhaps a suit could be filed for defamation, but a lot more facts have to be known. Basically the neighbor would have to prove that the statement was false and was made with malice.
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