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Hello, My name isXXXXX would like to know what to do to get help with a person that is writing slanderous things about me ... things that may harm my livlihood (I am a teacher). The things she has written are not true and they were written in a letter that also included untrue things about her 16 year old daughter that I have been trying to help. I hotlined the mother (the person that is now slandering me) for child abuse. The woman's 3 married daughters all state they were abused as children and one daughter refuses to give Social Services her contact information because she fears her mother (her mother threatened her husband and children).
State/Country relating to Question: Missouri Already Tried: I have tried talking to the woman but she told me to never contact her again. I wonder if there is something to file with my local police department? I asked them to increase patrols by my home Monday night because I am concerned about this woman ... she is a pathological liar (I am paraphrasing that label from a statement one of her daughters made to me). We were family friends for about 4 years before this incident. Monday she beat her daughter ... the daughter ran out of the home and went to a neighbor's house. The neighbor drove her to my house because we are family friends. The daughter refuses to return to the home; she will be 17 in 2 weeks and elected to place herself in a local children's hospital in order to stay away from her mother's home. The mother is now on a rampage and wrote letters to her older married daughters that included several lies that I am able to show are not true. She is lying about her daughter's mental health in an effort to keep her; the daughter is adopted and her twin brother committed suicide (supposedly) 17 months ago because he could not face living with his mother any longer. Violence against the daughter escalated since that time until Monday, when the daughter left and asked me for help. I am a teacher; a mandated reporter for child abuse. The woman's lies could potentially harm me professionally and I need help to know what to do at this point, please. P.
Hi P. I understand how this would be deeply offensive and make you want to consider what options are available to you. You may in fact have an action for defamation. Let me explain what constitutes defamation and then you can make the determination whether or not it is something you wish to pursue. I am going to provide you information on both slander and libel since they are so closely related and so often confused with each other. Both involve the communication of false information about a person, group or entity. Libel is any defamation that can be seen....writings, printing, effigy, movie or statue. Slander, is any defamation that is spoken and heard. They are civil injuries that harm reputation, cause a reduction in respect, regard or confidence, or cause disparaging, hostile or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity. The laws regarding libel and slander are the same. To prevail in a suit for libel or slander and recover damages, you must prove 4 things: (i) the defendant conveyed a defamatory message they knew or should have known to be false; (ii) the material was published (i.e., conveyed to someone other than you); (iii) you can be identified as the the person referred to in the defamatory material; and (iv) you suffered an injury to your reputation as a result of the communication. I hope this has given you the guidance you were seeking. I wish you the best of luck! If I have adequately answered your question, even though the answer might not have been the one for which you hoped, I would appreciate it if you would please click the GREEN "ACCEPT" button NOW, so that I receive credit for my work; otherwise, though you’ve made a deposit, I do not receive credit. If you need additional clarification on this question after clicking ACCEPT, please don't hesitate to click "Reply" and I will be happy to do what I can to help you further. Thanks for allowing me to be of service to you. The information given here is not legal advice. As all states have different intricacies in their laws, the information given is general only. This communication does not establish an attorney-client relationship with you. I hope this answer has been helpful to you.
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Thanks for explaining libel and slander. Both have occurred and I will be able to prove the 4 things you listed.I think I posted follow up information before you had time to read it, so I ask that you let me know if you read the additional part ... beginning with "Already Tried: I have tried talking to the woman ..."I would also like to know what area of specialty I should seek when I find a local lawyer ... that is, should I look for a Family Practice lawyer?thanks,P
<p>Hello again...I did not see the follow up info - it did not show up on my screen. You've got yourself a regular psycho here. You're correct--in addition to the defamation aspect of this, you've got several other matters to consider.</p><p> </p><p>1) You should contact CPS about the abuse of her daughter. </p><p> </p><p>2) You should also consider filing for a protective order against this woman.</p><p> </p><p>3) Your best bet would be a family lawyer with some trial experience so the same lawyer could advise you on all these matters. It could be a consult with a particular specialist could be needed as well, but your family lawyer could bring them in on an "as needed" basis. </p><p> </p><p>I wish you the best. Be very careful! I'm going to keep you in my prayers!</p>