Slander??

[Rail1078]

StateAlabama:I am new here and would appreaciate any help with my question.I live with my family in a small suburb, and here we have a small community paper that is free.I was sitting with my 12 year old son at the doctors office when he held up one of these papers and said,Dad look.It was a picture and article of my other son that is 27 years old and has been on drugs and the streets for years.The article said that he had been convicted of theft of property a class b felon and that he resided in the 7000 block and gave our street name.They gave everthing except the exact house number even our last name.His name is not right in the article,he changed his last name.He does not live or even visit at our house but gave the address at his arrest.I know that this is public info,but can they post info like this if it is wrong?I have two small children that play with the other children in the neighborhood and am worried more about what effect this has on them.The articles in this paper are usually telling about chrime in the area,but this happened in a different county and I can't see the purpose of the article but to only hurt the innocent.Thanks for any help,David

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Yes they can. Although there are mistakes, you first have to prove intent and that the newspaper KNOWINGLY printed false information with the intent to do damage.

You have suffered no damages.

And as for a retraction, do you really want this information printed AGAIN. The newspaper is not obligated to print the information, but if they do then you have it one again published.

forget it and move on.

 

[Rail1078]

State:Alabama:Thanks for your answer.I had thought that there wasn't much I could do about it.I think I made the woman that did this feel so bad that she will think longer and try to make sure her facts are right before writing articles like this again.I feel like you and that was my first thoughts when she asked about making a retraction was that the damage has been done and anything else would only worsen it.Thanks again,David