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Should I sue?

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sacrificialamb

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Washington
I have a complicated case. I live in a rural recreation area in Eastern Wa. A couple moved in the area above our community and done nothing but cause trouble for everyone around who tries to snowmobile or ride ORV's near their 20 acres. This has been going on for a year now and this couple has gone out of their way to call the police on numerous residents and they have become hated in the area. That being said back in Feb 2006 myself and a group of friends ran into them and had a heated discussion about them not owning the roads, etc. Nothing but yelling went onbut a friend of mine made the mistake of saying my name before we left so he got my first name and my stupid friend told him what street we lived on. Then 3 weeks later someone on a snowmobile beat this guy up on his property. As you can guess he assumed it was me. Whomever did it had the same color snowmobile so he figured out my last name and called the police. To make a very long story short the police came to my house twice and took pictures, statements and talked to me for a long time. This genteleman had given the police 6 very detailed facts to check and was the reason for the pictures. The one time I ever talked to the man I had a helmut and sunglasses on so could not have even seen me. The police said none of the things matched me and said I was cleared and no longer under suspicioun. The sheriff called the man the next night and told him this. He had filed for a restraining order against me and the sherifff told him that was a false order and he should think about pursuing that. Well he proceeded and showed up at the court date with an attorney and proceeded to crucify me in front of the judge. He lied and said he knew nothing about me being cleared and started lying and brought up several other instances that he accused me of doing. Some were absoulutely absurd and outright lies. Some were when I was even on vacation. He is just using me as an example for all the people who are harassing him and since he has my name only is trying to say it was all me. I have proof of my innocence on all the allegations but my question is can I sue him for defamation of character since he has outright lied in public several times now?? I can prove he lied because I talked to the sheriff who talked to him and he said he would go to court and testify.

Thank you

Thank you
 


sacrificialamb

Junior Member
Seems wrong?

I don't understand how someone can accuse you of a crime in public, say your name and not be held responsible when they know for a fact you were not responsible. Not to mention I now have a restraining order against me for something I didn't do? It seems like he should be held responsible and I should be able to get my name cleared, especially the restraining order.
 

fairisfair

Senior Member
sacrificialamb said:
I don't understand how someone can accuse you of a crime in public, say your name and not be held responsible when they know for a fact you were not responsible. Not to mention I now have a restraining order against me for something I didn't do? It seems like he should be held responsible and I should be able to get my name cleared, especially the restraining order.
How could you possible know what "they know for a fact"? are you a psychic??

Even if you did not commit this crime, he may well have been able to show evidence as to why he is fearful of you, hence the restraining order. Comments made during the hearing, I believe are exempt from any libel charges.
 

sacrificialamb

Junior Member
Sheriff called me

The investigating sheriff called my wife and I to let us know that he had spoken to the accuser and told him that I was not the guy and that I was cleared and they would no longer pursue my as a suspect. He said he spoke to the man for 20 minutes explaining that none of the info he gave the sheriff matched even closely. This was before the restraining hearing. The sheriff said he told him he understood, then the sheriff had another call and didn't talk to him again.
 

fairisfair

Senior Member
sacrificialamb said:
The investigating sheriff called my wife and I to let us know that he had spoken to the accuser and told him that I was not the guy and that I was cleared and they would no longer pursue my as a suspect. He said he spoke to the man for 20 minutes explaining that none of the info he gave the sheriff matched even closely. This was before the restraining hearing. The sheriff said he told him he understood, then the sheriff had another call and didn't talk to him again.
Whatever the judge accepted as fact in the court room, is now that. Fact.
 

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