If you've been arrested for a crime you didn't commit, you need to defend your legal rights. You have the right to an attorney who can help you present your case. After being wrongly accused of something myself, I learned quickly how to navigate the legal avenues to have my case dismissed. My attorney was a great resource for building the case, and because of my understanding of the law, it worked. I created this site to share what I learned along the way and some other great tips for others who have been wrongly accused and arrested for a crime.
They say that words will never hurt you. Unfortunately, that's not always correct, especially when it comes to defamation of character – whether slander or libel. If you've been defamed, words can definitely hurt you. Not sure what the difference between slander and libel is? Slander involves the spoken word. Libel involves the written word. Because libel is in print, it usually has the tendency to cause more harm – since the printed word tends to hang around much longer than the spoken word. Here are three steps you'll need to take if you've been the victim of defamation.
Obtain Evidence of the Publication
If you've been defamed and the defamation was in print – libel – you need to obtain evidence of the publication. That means you need to provide evidence that the comments were made in print. For instance, if someone made false statements about you on a social media site, you need to download the statement and create a printed copy of it. If someone printed a falsehood about you in a news story, obtain a copy of the newspaper showing the story. You'll need evidence of the publication if you plan on filing a lawsuit.
Determine Whether the Comment was Intended as Fact or Opinion
When it comes to defamation, you need to prove that the person intended to make a factual statement, rather than an opinion. Statements of opinion are not considered defamation. For instance, someone could say that they thought you were guilty of a crime because you "seemed" guilty. That would be an opinion. However, it wouldn't be considered an opinion if they posted that they knew for a fact that you were guilty of a crime. That statement would show that they intended it to appear fact-based.
Show How the Statement Injured You
If you've been the victim of defamation, you need to prove that the statements caused you actual harm. For instance, if someone published a lie about you that caused you to lose your job, that would show actual injury. As soon as you're the victim of defamation, you need to start keeping a journal. Document all the ways that this event has caused you injuries.
If defamation has interfered with your life, you need to speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Words spoken – or published – about you can damage your personal and professional life.
Share28 November 2016
