slander

[nutmeghim]

What is the name of your state? Florida...I was running for an open spot on our homeowners assoc. board. After the meeting, in which I didn't get elected, I found out that the President of the HOA had made false remarks to some neighbors about my wife. My wife left her job at a bank to persue her interest in real estate. Three neighbors have since told us that the president said that she was fired for embezzelment. This is untrue.. The neighbors all had the same story and said they would testify in court. My wife has lost business in this neighborhood since because of this. What can we do, and how? thanks

 

[seniorjudge]

What is the name of your state? Florida...I was running for an open spot on our homeowners assoc. board. After the meeting, in which I didn't get elected, I found out that the President of the HOA had made false remarks to some neighbors about my wife. My wife left her job at a bank to persue her interest in real estate. Three neighbors have since told us that the president said that she was fired for embezzelment. This is untrue.. The neighbors all had the same story and said they would testify in court. My wife has lost business in this neighborhood since because of this. What can we do, and how? thanks

If you want to sue them for defamation, you will need to hire a lawyer (around $20K should be a good start) and set aside three years or so to take care of this matter.


http://members.aol.com/alicebeard/law/samples/sample01.html

This is FYI only; it's a sample memo on what goes into defamation cases and it is for informational purposes only.

 

[nutmeghim]

Since my wifes business is real estate, and she has lost business from this. Can small claimes handle this? Twenty thousand dollars and three years seems to be out of hand. I would like to think this could be handled sooner to avoid an more lost business!?

 

[shell007]

No matter "Where" you sue is not necessarily going to put a hault on your wife loosing business.

would like to think this could be handled sooner to avoid an more lost business!?

The rumor was already started and will possibly continue to snowball from person to person to person and so on. Their friends tell their friends, and their friends tell their friends etc..

Your suit will be to recover damages. Your suit WILL NOT stop the rumors, that have already taken over the neighborhood and surrounding towns from spreading, which is causing the loss in business.

 

[HomeGuru]

Since my wifes business is real estate, and she has lost business from this. Can small claimes handle this? Twenty thousand dollars and three years seems to be out of hand. I would like to think this could be handled sooner to avoid an more lost business!?

**A: no, regular claims. Hire an attorney and file a TRO.

 

[nutmeghim]

Since this is the President of the HOA that we belong to. Can we sue the HOA also? I would rather avoid sueing at all, So is it wise to get him to publicly apologize for his actions, and forgive and forget?

 

[HomeGuru]

Since this is the President of the HOA that we belong to. Can we sue the HOA also? I would rather avoid sueing at all, So is it wise to get him to publicly apologize for his actions, and forgive and forget?

**A: the HOA can be named as a co-Defendant.