Can I Get Legal Aid To Sue Some One For Slander

[Ckat]

Can I get legal aid to sue social services for slander

[bednobs]

no

[woofgang]

also hell no

[fiction-factory]

Best you can hope for is to find a solicitor who will take it on on a "no win no fee" basis.

[kvalidir]

As Bednobs woof say hell no, just forget about it whatever it is, if you're not a multi millionaire ( even then no) just don't even entertain it it's simply not possible for a regular person to sue for slander.

[woofgang]

ficfac, those no win no fee deals make you buy insurance to cover costs if you lose.

[NoMercy]

How did they slander you?

Do you have any witnesses who can contradict what SS have said?

You could go down the route of an official complaint against the very person or persons who slandered you and take it from there. There may be a journalist or two out there who may be interested in your story.

But as far as getting legal aid to fight a civil matter - absolutely no chance. Otherwise we'd all be suing each other all day long.

[fiction-factory]

Is it slander or libel? If it was slander then you must show that there was actual injury to your reputation. Not easy unless the circumstances were exceptional

[Ckat]

Yes their is witness to contradict what they have said but I'm sure social services have done this to many low income families, because they know that they can't afford to fight back which is an injustice in its self.

[NoMercy]

Well there are certainly some horror stories about SS and yes they do tend to pick on the impoverished and low-income families. Health visitors are the same - they think they know more than Paediatricians.

I would write everything down and list each and every inconsistency / falsehood and state your version of each and every event. Keep everything logged from now on and if they pay you a visit at home, keep a recording device like your mobile phone hidden nearby to capture the conversation.

We may be able to give more specific advice if you could give more detail about your grievance and how they came to be in your lives in the first place.

[bednobs]

even high income families cant afford this sort of thing. What loss did you suffer from what they said apart from hurt feelings?

[Jackdaw33]

Slander, unlike Libel, requires a proof of economic loss. It is for very good reasons that the law on Defamation attracts no legal aid. If you want to sue, you should pay for it.

[NoMercy]

There is a law firm - Farley's Solicitors LLP - who specialise in claims against the Social Services. I am not sure if they operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, but you may get 30 minutes' free legal advice. It won't hurt to speak with them and find out if you have a case against them.

Alternatively write to the Social Services Manager outlining your complaint. If that doesn't get you anywhere you can write to Anne Longfield, Children's Commisioner for England.

Best of luck.

[Buenchico]

To be actionable for 'defamation of character', a slander needs to be 'published'. (i.e. it has to be heard by someone other than the person the comments are about). If, when we're the only people in the room, I call you a thief, a liar and a rapist, then my statements aren't actionable because there's no 'publication'.

Further, 'fair comment' is protected from action for defamation. If, say, a social worker told her colleagues, all her other clients and the media that she regarded you as the most awkward, objectionable and utterly revolting person she'd ever have to deal with then, as long as that was her genuine opinion, there could be no successful action brought for defamation. (Obviously she'd face charges of professional misconduct but you still couldn't sue her).

[bednobs]

why would writing to the children's commisioner help? who said it was about children? perhaps it's the LGO in this case?

[NoMercy]

The OP has said very little but makes mention of being in a low income family.

So ... I constructed my replies on the basis that the matter involves the welfare of children.

Have you any reason to think this is not the case, bednobs?

[DarceyK123]

Would you really want the public purse to spend thousands of pounds on something someone said to / about you?

You wouldn't use your own money would you?

[Peter Pedant]

no and
never could....

try complaining down the usual routes
in writing....

slander is a complete non starter

[Ckat]

No mercy is their a more private way that I could discuss this matter with you thanks

[Jackdaw33]

Having studied law to first class degree standard I struggle to remember the last successful action for slander. Libel, yes. I forget who made this comment and I might have phrased it incorrectly, but 'The doors of the libel courts, like the doors of the Ritz, are open to all'.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah open a disposable email address (gmail or somewhere) and then delete it when you have finished

if the DoSS has upset you over reports or allegations
then you may apply for a correction
but it has to be factual and
they may well say that it was their opinion at the time

complaints to the police would almost certainly be actionable
( he hit me etc ) and they are by and large immune from suit
http://www.brettwilson.co.uk/blog/criminal-complaints-to-the-police-can-i-sue-for-defamation/

and I THINK you may well be advised that other peoples complaints to the DoSS are as well.

A dissatisfied tenant of mine that I got a CCJ against, complained to the police that I was a child molester ( er I;m not )
and it was obvious that I would have to bask in the glory of being allowed to disprove the allegations and there was nothing else I could do about it.