Slander

[Queely]

Hi. I sit on a local body and we have a difficult decision to make. Already there are rumours that we have accepted money to make a decision one way or another - all untrue. We have asked for information on where the rumours came from, but there is never a response. Is it OK for someone to say whatever they like? Does prefacing it with "I have heard" mean we have no recourse?

[loonytunes]

You have no recourse anyway. If you don't know who has said these things, you cannot take action. Even if you do, you will probably have to prove you have been damaged by the allegations and take court action which will be prohibively expensive. That's why only wealthy people sue newspapers.

[Queely]

Thanks for this. It is frustrating that people can accuse anyone of anything by starting the statement with "I have heard that .." I was just hoping that there was a way of stopping them saying these things.