Letter received today Slander/Libel??

[epjp]

What is the name of your state? Fl

I have recently taken in a kid that turned 18 last week but until then he was always in some kind of trouble. Mainly with his father. I have known him for about 6 years and has been my younger sons friend. I have never met his parents but have spoken to them a few years ago when the boys where old enough to drive, just to let them know my numbers incase they ever had a question where their kid was, since he was alway here. Needless to say I never heard from them until today when I got a letter from them in the mail. There is numerous parts of the letter I can not post here but will try to relate items I have questions about.

The letter starts:

Dear Trashy People,

Since you have taught our child to lie, steal, cheat, and abcond, you can now complete the job.
You trashy people can teach my son to lie just like your son. You can teach him to be ignorant just like you. His grandmothers are so discusted with you criminal trashy degenerates that you are all fortunate they are old woman. Until my son is no longer living with the piece of ____ family he is with , not to call. When you chose to live with some piece of ___ scumbag, you depend on them not us. You're a ____ed up bunch of people and I will spend my days trying to put you in jail.


This is just part of the letter but of coarse is far from the truth. My husband and I have been in our community for 20 years, owned a business, and raised two great kids. Neither one of our children have even had a speeding ticket let alone any other run in with the law.

He is just mad his son wants to live with us. It is unfortunate he does not realize he has a great kid that is very respectful and wanting to be loved.

Just curious if this is slander/Libel and if so what start process should I do so it does not go any further.
Thanks

 

[quincy]

Well, it certainly isn't a nice letter, is it?

I do not see a defamation suit right now, because your reputation has not been damaged by this letter to you. Although the words written are definitely libelous, the words need to be spread to other people (and believed by other people to the extent that your reputation is harmed by what is written or said). Right now you could show no damages.

This sounds more like a letter written by an uneducated and angry man who hasn't a clue about parenting, and is upset that you do.

The part of the letter that would concern me more than the defamation is the part where he writes that he "will spend his days trying to put you in jail." That sounds like a threat. I don't know how close you live to this family, or whether there is a real danger from this man, but those words would make me feel uneasy. I think I might feel more secure checking with the police on this. You might want to consider that.

And thank goodness you have been there for his son - it sounds like the kid has needed some sanity and love in his life and you have provided it.

 

[epjp]

Thank you for your advice. I will be contacting the police tomorrow concerning this letter. When I first received the letter I laughed more than anything due to his grammer. He is a very succeful business man, guess he could not have his secretary write this one for him. But the more I think about the letter the more concerned I have become. You never know what one is capiable of and if he had the nerve to send the letter he may also have the nerve to act on some of his thoughts.
Thank you for your kind words, may God watch over all of us.