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Washington Libel & Slander Questions & Answers
Q: Should I file a discrimination complaint pro se by May 24 to preserve claims or wait for legal counsel?

I'm pursuing a discrimination and retaliation case against a state agency, with my EEOC/state agency filing deadline on May 24, 2025. Multiple law firms have declined to represent me due to case complexity, involving systemic retaliation, APS misuse, and defamation. I have strong direct... View More

Brad S Kane
Brad S Kane
answered on May 8, 2025

If you wait too long to file, the statute of limitations will bar your claims. If you cannot get a lawyer, lay out the facts and all possible claims in your complaint as best you can, to protect against the statute of limitations. You can then delay serving the complaint to buy more time to seek... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Intellectual Property, Trademark, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Can someone claim my IP after abandoned trademark application and threats?

I have been receiving phone calls threatening to take away my rights to the image and work I created. I started a trademark application for them several years ago, but it was marked as abandoned due to failure to respond; I may have missed a communication. The callers have not disclosed who they... View More

Patrick A. Twisdale
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answered on Apr 6, 2025

There has been a rise in reports of scammers targeting individuals with threats related to their intellectual property. These bad actors often try to intimidate creators by making unfounded claims, and sometimes even misuse the name of a legitimate attorney or invent a fake organization to seem... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Libel & Slander and Intellectual Property for Washington on
Q: Unauthorized use of son's name in book, seeking legal advice.

I need legal help regarding a trainer who is writing a book falsely claiming personal experiences involving my son, James Edwards, using his full name and personal information without permission. The narrative is misleading, inaccurate, and hearsay, as the trainer was not involved in my son's... View More

Emmanuel Coffy
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answered on Mar 5, 2025

You may have legal grounds to prevent the unauthorized use of your son's name and personal information in the book. Potential legal actions include:

Cease and Desist Letter – Have an Attorney send a formal demand to stop using your son's name and personal details....
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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Personal injury from defamation and slander, false reports made to police, violation and denial of civil rights, and job

I am suffering personal and financial injury from defamation, slander and false, misleading, statements made to police about me by my boss on 2 separate occasions, denials and violations of my civil rights on numerous occasions against me by employer and boss, mishandling of my personal information... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 7, 2024

I'm so sorry to hear about the serious mistreatment and harm you've suffered at the hands of your employer. What they have done to you is completely unacceptable and illegal on multiple levels. You absolutely should take swift legal action to hold them accountable and seek justice. Here... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Libel & Slander for Washington on
Q: When rumors or untrue statements are made about me and by individuals whom are misleading others with their propaganda i

The individuals are misrepresenting themselves by claiming law enforcement association what are my options

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Feb 24, 2024

When faced with rumors or false statements propagated by individuals falsely claiming association with law enforcement, it's crucial to address the situation promptly and effectively. Begin by documenting all instances of misinformation, including dates, times, and specific details of the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Divorce, Family Law, Domestic Violence, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: I am seeking to modify or appeal my divorce mediation agreement

I am seeking legal guidance on viability of a modification or appeal to my divorce mediation agreementt in regard to property division as well as file charges against them for financial coercion, control and emotional pain and suffering due to financial damages, emotional distress, and ongoing harm... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 10, 2025

You have every right to question an agreement if you believe it was reached under pressure or caused you lasting harm. In Washington, modifying or appealing a divorce mediation agreement is difficult once it's been finalized and entered into court, but not impossible. If you can show that you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander, Civil Litigation, Consumer Law and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Can I sue a company for false accusations that led to financial loss?

I was accused by a company of actions that I did not commit, and as a result, my stream was banned. I have pictures and videos as proof that refute the company's accusations. Despite providing this evidence to them immediately after my stream was banned, they refused to resolve the issue. I... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 10, 2025

Yes, you may have legal grounds to sue if the company made false accusations that led to a ban and caused you financial harm. To succeed, you'd typically need to show that the company made a false statement or acted negligently, that this directly resulted in your stream being banned, and that... View More

Q: Can I sue my ex-wife in Washington for false allegations and emotional distress?

I am currently in the United States, and my ex-wife has been spreading false allegations about me, including lying to immigration authorities to have me deported. She has threatened me by saying she would call immigration if I don't comply with her demands, and she has treated me poorly during... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 22, 2025

In Washington state, you may have grounds for legal action against your ex-wife based on what you've described. False statements made to government authorities, particularly immigration officials, could potentially form the basis of a defamation claim if these statements damaged your... View More

Q: Officer lied about camera footage for charges; case dismissed. Next steps?

I was charged with a sexual offense based on an officer's sworn statement under penalty of perjury claiming to have viewed incriminating camera footage. I can prove this was false; the cameras were non-functional, and my wife, the manager of the location, confirmed it. Internal Affairs also... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 14, 2025

I'm really sorry you had to go through this. Being falsely accused, especially based on a fabricated claim from a law enforcement officer, is deeply damaging and terrifying. The dismissal of your case after the body camera footage was reviewed shows that the truth was on your side—but it... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Accused of predatory behavior by a non-profit and blacklisted without evidence in WA. What can I do?

I was accused of predatory behavior by a non-profit organization I volunteered for, specifically of watching a group of women while they were changing, despite allegedly being warned to stop. I became aware of this accusation when another organization I tried to volunteer for informed me that I had... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 13, 2025

Being accused of predatory behavior without evidence can be deeply distressing, especially when it affects your ability to volunteer elsewhere. The first step is to formally request the original organization provide evidence of the accusations. You have the right to know the specifics of the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Collections, Consumer Law, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Dispute a repair charge and signature sent to collections in WA

An air conditioning repair company in Washington attempted to troubleshoot my AC without success. The technician assured me there would be no charge since no diagnosis or repair was made, but three months later, I received an invoice for the incomplete service. Despite leaving a voicemail disputing... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 11, 2025

This situation is incredibly frustrating, especially when you were told there would be no charge and now face aggressive collection attempts over something you didn’t agree to. In Washington, you have the right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to dispute a debt that you... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander, Internet Law and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Can I sue for sharing my personal info without consent in Washington State?

In Washington State, if someone shares my personal information, such as a picture of my face, my employment details, and my name, to just one person without my consent, can I sue them? The information was shared without any permission or consent from my side.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 8, 2025

I'm sorry to hear about your situation. In Washington State, there is a legal concept known as "public disclosure of private facts." This applies when someone publicly shares private information about you that would be highly offensive to a reasonable person and is not of legitimate... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, International Law, Libel & Slander and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Am I legally responsible if harm comes to a friend due to a photo I sent online?

I had an online conversation with someone who expressed interest in joining a militia in the Middle East. During our conversation, he asked me for a photo, and in a panic, I sent him a picture of a high school friend that I found on Facebook. I have not contacted any authorities, and I do not... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 1, 2025

Your situation raises several concerning legal issues that intersect privacy law, international jurisdiction, and potential criminal liability. Sharing someone else's photo without their consent could potentially violate various privacy laws, including California's right of publicity... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Libel & Slander, Civil Litigation and Personal Injury for Washington on
Q: Can I sue my girlfriend's mom for false abuse claims causing distress?

Can I sue my girlfriend's mom for emotional distress or damage to my reputation due to her false statements that I am physically abusing my girlfriend? She reported our arguments to the police, leading a police officer to come to my school to discuss the situation. Now, my girlfriend's... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 27, 2025

You may have grounds for a defamation lawsuit if you can prove the statements made about you were false and caused actual harm to your reputation. For defamation cases, you'll need evidence that your girlfriend's mother knowingly made false statements to others and that these statements... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Civil Litigation, Civil Rights and Libel & Slander for Washington on
Q: My ex is using coercive control and harassing me by reporting false claims to cps and got my kid taken

He doesn’t want to pay TANF his sadistic mother is guiding him he’s made cps believe I’m a drug crazy lunatic yet I was only protecting my son from him. My PO Idea for including my son on it fell through.. because of the pending dependency.. I’ve been researching and haven’t found any... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Sep 22, 2024

It sounds like you're in a difficult and unfair situation. If you're considering terminating the state's guardianship and submitting a petition, it might help to provide all of the evidence you’ve gathered, including proof of CPS’s misinformation about the court time. This could... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Civil Rights, Federal Crimes and Libel & Slander for Washington on
Q: Framed for a crime I didn't commit by people using spyware on me/my family. What recourse do I have, who do I contact?

At my previous job I had a large group of people using spyware to spy on both me and my family. They used the spyware to to sift through my personal accounts in an attempt to frame me in order to save themselves from prosecution, including stating that I was making threats against the federal... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Aug 31, 2024

It sounds like you're in a very difficult situation. First, it's crucial to gather any evidence you have of the spyware, stalking, or false allegations. This could include screenshots, records of communication, or any proof of unauthorized access to your accounts. Documentation will be... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Constitutional Law and Libel & Slander for Washington on
Q: I am looking for an attorney familiar with filing False Claims Act cases. Ideally, they would also speak Spanish.

There are some unrelated questions in other areas, too. Breadth of experience, please.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Jun 16, 2024

A Washington attorney could advise best, but you posted last week. You could search under qui tam and whistleblower law firms, in addition False Claims Act law firms - some firms use those terms interchangeably, depending on the nature of the cases they handle. Local and state bar associations... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Civil Rights, Libel & Slander and Landlord - Tenant for Washington on
Q: My landlord and her 65-year-old daughter lied and obtained an anti-Harassment order which rendered me homeless,any help

On this for relief against these two Unimaginably deceitful individuals I'm sure would satisfy any good soul in a victory over bad people that treated me so bad you could probably get a judgement on their house in Edmonds,Wa.

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Nov 7, 2023

If you believe an anti-harassment order was wrongfully obtained against you, you may consider appealing the order in court. You'll need to provide evidence that the claims made by your landlord and her daughter were false. It's crucial to act promptly since there are often strict... View More

2 Answers | Asked in Personal Injury, Civil Rights, Internet Law and Libel & Slander for Washington on
Q: Do lawyers accept anti-SLAPP cases on contingency?

Realizing that this largely depend on the individual case, is it common or uncommon for attorneys to accept anti-SLAPP cases on contingency in states with statutes that require the court to award legal fees in successful anti-SLAPP motions?

Anthony Matthews
Anthony Matthews
answered on Jul 10, 2023

It would be very uncommon to see a contingency fee on an anti-SLAPP lawsuit because their is no guarantee of payment even if the case is successful. Frequently, even in a SLAPP suit, the parties will reach alternative settlement arrangements that do not result in the case going to Court. Even... View More

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1 Answer | Asked in Libel & Slander and Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Do I have grounds to sue for defamation of character?

Last year false allegations were made about me and they were determined unfounded by police. I recently quit a job to take another and discovered that the coworkers who had made the false allegations last year worked there. I called my employer and explained what had happened last year. I was then... View More

Brad S Kane
Brad S Kane
answered on Oct 24, 2021

I am sorry this happened to you. You may have a claim for defamation. Please keep in mind you that the employer may not want to get involved and even deny stating the reason for withdrawing the offer. You should attempt to confirm it in writing in a text or email. In addition, you should... View More

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