Slandered in our living community

[lenok27]

What is the name of your state? CA
The situation: Me and my husband have been slandered by our neighbor, who has spread malicious lies about us to our neighbors, he tries very hard to ruin our reputation. He had told people that I was a prostitute and my husband a drug dealer. Both of us are business professional, and I work in tax and estate planning. He has also threatened us and have tried to tell terrible things about us to the management.

What has been done:
An official complaint has been filed to the management, in writing, as well as a meeting with the head manager of the apartment complex. I will also get a statement regarding us from the management, so that I will have it in writing. People are aware of his reputation, however, I don't feel safe. I want to get statements from all the neighbors regarding everything he has said. I don' t know, if in fact, our reputation was tarnished. We are moving because we just don't feel safe and uncomfortable living in such conditions. Is it even worth trying to press charges against him? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for any help!What is the name of your state?

 

[quincy]

If you are moving away from this neighbor and his lies, it may not be worth it to you to sue him for defamation. Whether to sue or not would really depend on whether you feel your reputation was actually damaged by his remarks, and how much money, time and effort you want to expend on pursuing a defamation action in court. Defamation cases can cost thousands and take months.

As far as injury to your reputation, damages are generally assumed when certain words are used - and being called a prostitute or a drug dealer are both words that assume injury, if he implied it was fact. You would not need to prove you were defamed, in other words (as long as you are not a prostitute and your husband is not a drug dealer, that is ). The only proofs you would need would be that he actually said what you say he said - and for that you would need the testimony of the neighbors he talked to and the management.

I, personally, would be more worried about the threats made by him, and your apparent fear for your safety, than the defamation, however. Is there some reason why he is slandering you and threatening you? Have you reported the threats to the police?

 

[lenok27]

Thank you for your response!

Well we didn't call the police, although we also had witnesses. I threatened to call the police and he started apologizing, but we did tell the management about the situation and made an official complaint in writing. I don't want to pursue this because it isn't really worth it, since we are moving. I will however collect more proof since it looks like this guy will be forced to move out, just in case there will be situations where this can happen to other people and provide it to the current management, so where ever this guy will go they will have some trace of what he is capable of. The reason why he is doing this, is simply because he is old and retired, and we are very young. I also think there is an ethnicity issue, maybe a little bit of racism.

 

[quincy]

I think all of the decisions you are making are wise ones and I am sure it will be a relief for you to move away from this man. I hope your new residence comes with only sane and friendly neighbors.