mustangmom
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Florida
I am a former member of an internationa mom's support group. As a non profit group we raised money annually for the American Cancer Society. This past year we sold BBQ dinners for our donation. I volunteered my time as I have for the past two years. The only difference this year was the 2 days after the event 2 of the club's board members came to my home and informed me that they thought money had been stolen from the cash box and they believed I was the thief. They threatened me with reporting it to the police if I did not confess. Of course I refused and threw them out of my home. They immediatly went to the police and filed a police report naming me as the suspect. I was never contacted, approached or arrested. However, 7 months later I was served with a demand to appear subpeona form the state of Florida's state attorny office. I was charged with Felony Grand theft. The "victim" statement written was full of contradictions and never really states a definite amount that I supposedly stole. They didn't even know how much money they started the event out with. I have already hired a criminal attorny to represent me in that regard.
My questions are do I have any leg to stand on as far as a slander/defamation suit are concerned? If so, do I wait until the criminal litigation is over? And also, can the people who filed these statements get in trouble for filing a false police report? What type of attorny do I retain for this type of case? Thanks so much!
I am a former member of an internationa mom's support group. As a non profit group we raised money annually for the American Cancer Society. This past year we sold BBQ dinners for our donation. I volunteered my time as I have for the past two years. The only difference this year was the 2 days after the event 2 of the club's board members came to my home and informed me that they thought money had been stolen from the cash box and they believed I was the thief. They threatened me with reporting it to the police if I did not confess. Of course I refused and threw them out of my home. They immediatly went to the police and filed a police report naming me as the suspect. I was never contacted, approached or arrested. However, 7 months later I was served with a demand to appear subpeona form the state of Florida's state attorny office. I was charged with Felony Grand theft. The "victim" statement written was full of contradictions and never really states a definite amount that I supposedly stole. They didn't even know how much money they started the event out with. I have already hired a criminal attorny to represent me in that regard.
My questions are do I have any leg to stand on as far as a slander/defamation suit are concerned? If so, do I wait until the criminal litigation is over? And also, can the people who filed these statements get in trouble for filing a false police report? What type of attorny do I retain for this type of case? Thanks so much!