Is this defamation/slander?

[BillInGeorgia]

What is the name of your state? GEORGIA

An adult member of a Booster organization at my daughters High School has told another parent that my daughter is "often high" when attending band practice (she is the drum major) and that she has "had crack and drinks etc etc". My daughter, is legally an adult at 18, and has never engaged in any of these practices. She is, in fact, a student with a 3.89 average, and is President of several student organizations as well as Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team. We learned of these comments because the daughter of the woman who was told these things, is a friend of my daughter..and her mom told her she wasnt too sure about her hanging out with her because she had heard that etc etc...

I want to put an immediate end to this. I am not afraid to confront this woman who is saying these things and wonder if I should just do it casually, or do it with the law on my side ??

 

[dallas702]

Damaging the reputation of another person can be compensable, but it would be much easier and quicker to confront the bitch and tell her that if she doesn't quit and tell people she lied you'll a) sue, or b) kick her butt.

Of course, you'd better be reeeeeeeeally sure the accusations aren't true.

 

[casa]

Damaging the reputation of another person can be compensable, but it would be much easier and quicker to confront the bitch and tell her that if she doesn't quit and tell people she lied you'll a) sue, or b) kick her butt.

Of course, you'd better be reeeeeeeeally sure the accusations aren't true.

I highly doubt that a student with a 3.89 GPA who's also Captain of the soccer team AND a drum major...is using crack.

 

[dallas702]

More likely speed.

 

[BillInGeorgia]

Didnt realize this was not a serious site. However, I DO appreciate your supportive comment casa... and you are correct. I believe i will confront this nut lady and ask her if she has a problem with my daughter...and remind her that saying things that damage one's reputation and cannot be supported...is shaky ground, especially if one wanted to be compensated. I also intend to demand, as a remedy, that she 1) apologize to my daughter 2) tell me who she mouthed off to and 3) require that she go to each person and tell them she was just mouthing off and has no proof that any of it ever went on and that it was wrong of her to say something like that.

 

[lostsoul23]

My daughter, is legally an adult at 18, and has never engaged in any of these practices.
I want to put an immediate end to this. I am not afraid to confront this woman who is saying these things and wonder if I should just do it casually, or do it with the law on my side ??

While I certainly understand your wanting to protect your daughters image, and in the end, your own, at 18 she is the one responsible for setting things straight. She would be the one to pursue legal action, etc.

If you end up confronting this person, I would do it casually. Because if it gets heated, and the police end up getting involved, they will tell you the same thing - at 18, she's an adult.

Nonetheless, good luck.

 

[BillInGeorgia]

Thank you lost soul. And you are correct. It is another fact I intended to relate to this nut...that she is an adult. Things will not get heated...I don't do that...especially with a woman. I am a direct person, and when I speak seriously to someone, it is clear that I am not being flip. Thanks again.

 

[saw192837]

Unless the target of the words (your daughter) is actually a drug user, the other person is definiately using slander and committing a defamation tort. You cannot claim people are essentially committing actions of moral turpitude (heavy narcotic use). She is setting herself up for a lawsuit

However this slander, in order to have a good case, must cause your Daughter some verifiable harm, such as a college not accepting her, or getting fired from band, or having friends ignore her, etc. If not, a court won't be likely to offer any real damages ($$$)

A criminal slander claim wouldn't go anywhere

 

[BelizeBreeze]

What is the name of your state? GEORGIA

An adult member of a Booster organization at my daughters High School has told another parent that my daughter is "often high" when attending band practice (she is the drum major) and that she has "had crack and drinks etc etc". My daughter, is legally an adult at 18, and has never engaged in any of these practices. She is, in fact, a student with a 3.89 average, and is President of several student organizations as well as Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team. We learned of these comments because the daughter of the woman who was told these things, is a friend of my daughter..and her mom told her she wasnt too sure about her hanging out with her because she had heard that etc etc...

I want to put an immediate end to this. I am not afraid to confront this woman who is saying these things and wonder if I should just do it casually, or do it with the law on my side ??

YOU can't do anything. As you said, your daughter is an adult. If SHE decides to sue have HER contact an attorney, although she doesn't have much of a case.