Ways to get information on a harasser

[w2tw]

What is the name of your state? Ma

I would like to file some type of action based on some extremely degrading comments made in the workplace as the result of a specific individual. I have spoken to an attorney briefly, but at this point in time do not have sufficient cause or background information to hire a lawyer. To continue, I am hoping to acquire my own information about the person in question and would like to ascertain if there is a pattern of behavior in other places that this individual has been in the past. This individual made a very specific comment that caused many people in my workplace to make extremely cruel jokes and has set in motion a very difficult and painful situation for me.

1. This person recently graduated from a particular school in another state. I have a few email addresses of several graduate students there who may have known this individual.
2. I would like to contact them and ask them if they have any information relevant to me case. Although a hunch, I am certain this person created a similar atmosphere and possibly bad feelings there as well and I would like to solicit a few people whose email addresses I have.

Pls advise --
A.
What are the legalities of my contacting people in this way ? I do want to be construed as harrassing another person, so I plan to send one and only one correspondence and unless the individual reponds, I will send no more.
B.
I do not want to be charged with slander or libel against the person whom I am seeking information about, so it is probably important for me to be careful about what I request. I almost have to mention the person's name although I may be able to do it without specifically mentioning it. In summary, I do not want to do anything scurilous despite the fact that this is my contention against this other person in the matter. Are there rules of engagement for this type of solicitation, because I am essentially soliciting another person's help online. However it could backfire on me and I am the person who was originally wronged in this matter. Can you advise ? Lawyers are expensive and my goal is to do some of the case building myself in an effort to both defray cost and produce a better case.What is the name of your state?

 

[>Charlotte<]

A case for what? If you find the information you're looking for, what do you hope to achieve?

 

[quincy]

Answers to Clt747's questions would help, however I will give an answer about bringing a defamation suit now, in case that is what you are considering.

If you are looking to file a defamation action against this person for damaging your reputation in the workplace, "background" information on him will mean nothing. A defamation action brought by you can only be based on what this person has said about you and how it has affected you, and not on what he has said or done in the past to other people in another state who have no relationship to you or your situation. Even if the comments made were racist or sexist in nature, for instance, knowing a person's history of racist and sexist remarks would have no bearing on any defamation case you could personally bring against him.

To actually prove slander, you would need reliable witness testimony from people he spoke to, inside or outside your current place of employment.

Contacting this individual's former classmates and inquiring about this individual opens you up to potential defamation or invasion of privacy actions, or charges of harassment. It is unwise legally - and unnecessary if the action you wish to take against this person is for what he has said about you.

Instead of playing detective and trying to dig up information on this guy, which could definitely backfire on you, I suggest you locate a free legal clinic and chat with an attorney there.