Slander?

[donna595]

I fell out with a friend some months ago, and since then the slightest thing she can blame on me she does....without reason.

Today she tells me to my face in front of other people that I caused her to have a breakdown, which is completely untrue. She has been spreading this rumour for sometime.

Is this slander? And would I have a case for court?

[bobjugs12]

Donna, I can understand your frustration but would it not be better and more mature to just turn the other cheek.
What would you hope to get oof her in court? Money, an apology, the moon on a stick? Do you really think it's a good use of court time?

Honestly love, i'd say "Screw the b1tch" and get on with your life.

[ChuckFickens]

slander is a civil matter, do you happen to have a spare couple of hundred thousand pounds kicking about to bring a civil court case? and would they have the money to pay you and the costs if you did win?

[bednobs]

just because you don't think its true dosen't mean it isn't

[boxtops]

Sounds like she has a problem, not you - cut and run, you don't need it.

[donna595]

I would turn the other cheek, but things have got way out of hand. There are other things going on, and we live in a small community where my husband and I are quite respected. My name has ultimatley turned to mud as a result and are being dragged over the coals for no reason.

[madmaggot]

How old are you both? Sounds like a schoolyard spat to me; perhaps you are lucky that you don't have anything serious to worry about?

[mike11111]

You may well have a case to sue in the tort of defamation (slander and libel). However legal aid is not available in such cases and you would have to fund any action yourself. You would need to be sure that you had a cast-iron case and that the defendant had the resources to pay any damages and costs in the event of your victory; also that you had the resources to meet your own costs in the case of any loss. Even if you were to win, and the defendant has not the resources to pay your costs, you will still be liable for them to your legal team. Defamation actions are for the rich versus the rich - leave well alone.

There are sound public policy reasons behind not allowing legal aid for such cases.

[joggerjayne]

Sue her.

[cassa333]

Go on Jeremy Kyle

[bobjugs12]

If your name is as respected as you claim then a single womans gossip will have no bearing over that.
If however, you are both acting like kids, then expecting the courts to sort out a big case of 'he said she said' then grow up and stop wasting your lives with such a pathetic venture.

Jeremy Kyle does sound like a very good idea for you too. Failing that is Trisha still on Channel 5?

[joko]

while you are not to blame for her breakdown, she may genuinely feel it was her dealings with you that caused it...therefore in her mind she speaks the truth...i think it would be a hard case to win

[fredpuli47]

Slander (mere speech, not broadcast or written ) is,normally only actionable on proof of actual loss, not merely loss of reputation. A quaint exception at common law is where a woman's chastity or morality has been impugned.
As stated ,legal aid is not available for it, nor for libel .Libel is defamation recorded in some 'permanent' form (printed etc) or broadcast.
The law is that way because the courts would be overloaded if everyone could sue every time they were the victim of some gossipy person. Some of us would be in court every day, otherwise ! It also reflects common sense, because people are presumed to take such oral statements with a pinch of salt. The law takes a more serious view of libel, judging that anything written is more lasting,likely to be more widely disseminated and far more likely to be taken as having truth to it.
Best course is to trust to the common sense of any hearer and to rest on your true reputation.

[Androcles]

How do you know your reputation has suffered? If people say anything to you, don't say anything, just laugh and shake your head as if you thought she is a nutter.....