Any Lawyers etc ?? Advice needed on pursuing Slander/defamation case?

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anon4advice

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I am a regular hhoer , just under dif name for anon.

With regards to horses in a way , but not directly related .
Via email and a popular social networking site there is a guy who i know vaguely who is by the things he is saying to other people / posting on his social networking page etc , harassing me ?? trying to bother me , and saying things which are not true , quite serious things .

we have never gone out together , boyfriend , girlfriend etc , so its not a case of bitter ex or anything .

Just want advice on wat to do re pursuing a harrassment / slander/ defamation case against him ?????

If possible I would like to claim damages as the things he as been saying have caused rifts between myself and my boyfriend ,and are causing me problems at work !!!

Any thoughts or advice people ?????

I am in Scotland , if that makes any difference , so is he .

thanks
 
I'd like to help, but I'm afraid I find your post too vague
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Perhaps you would benefit from contacting the CAB?
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The law is different in Scotland.

In England basically you have to show that he is saying untruthful things about you and that you have suffered some personal damage not just "trouble" with your boyfriend.

It is very expensive to bring any actions.

I would print out the relevant pages of his FB page etc as evidence, go see a lawyer and ask them to write him a letter telling hom to desist from doing the same in future otherwise you will bring an action against him.
 
find a friendly policeman, and get the horrible man served with a harrassment warning. you have to say that it's causing you alarm, distress etc on a number of occasions (harrassment 1998)... that's the english law, but scotland may be different. myOH tells me that scottish law is, in fact, better and clearer and there will be an equivilent or better one for you.
it starts as a civil matter, but if he were to then do it again after being warned, it becomes a criminal matter and he can be arrested- as he's been told his behaviour is making you feel harrassed, so if he continues, he's doing it with the knowledge of how he's making you feel.

good luck! hope it all works out. xx

p.s. if you're still in need, and can't find a nice friendly policeman/lady... let me know. my OH's friend relocated to aberdeen a while ago so he'll know scottosh law. xx
 
Complain to his ISP and to the social networking site - mentioning harrassment and threatening behaviour to the ISP and defamation to the social networking site. That should get his accounts closed down. Of course he CAN open new ones and continue - keep copies of everything and go to the police regarding harrassment and 'stalking'.

A libel action (it's libel if it's 'published' and putting defamatory stuff on Facebook or elsewhere on the web IS 'publishing') is EXTREMELY expensive (think £100,000 as a starting point!!) and can be very difficult to win. And even if you DO win, it's likely he'll have no money to pay your lawyer's bills!!
 
You also posted this in SB before, and same answer from me.

two choices:

a) ignore it

b) write to owners of the sites and tell them its defamation and untrue and ask them to remove it. Contact him to tell him to stop.

Before you do that I wouldn't both with the hassle and expense of sueing him.
 
thanks guys !!

he was told a couple of months ago not to contact me or continue to harass / bother me , spread lies , so he is STILL doing it and has stepped it up a gear by writing these things up so they are visible on the web!

it isnt really a cse of ignoring it , it is causing more than just trouble with my boyfriend , it is seriously affecting my work as the things he is saying are detrimental to my work and my job .

will get back in touch with police and solicitor and tell them he is continuing to do this , and see what they can do or advise , just needed some advice until i can discuss it with them on monday .

re suing or having him arrested , I would like to pursue this , as what he has done/is doing has caused me quite substantial financial damage , people cancelling work /jobs with me due to these tales they have both heard and seen from this guy !!

Iam sure i read about a case recently where a girl was jailed i think for bullying another girl via internet and emails for some time ???
police and courts etc are starting to realise people can abuse each other via so many avenues these days !!

thanks guys , any other help be great . xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
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A libel action (it's libel if it's 'published' and putting defamatory stuff on Facebook or elsewhere on the web IS 'publishing')

[/ QUOTE ]

The precident in England and Wales is actually the lesser offence of slander, if it's on a forum or networking site. Although the laws in Scotland may obviously be different.
 
thanks for that guys !!

previously i have asked him to refrain from doing this , as have the police and a solicitor ! so he is still continuing it , he is disregarding me, police and solicitor , so i think i need something a bit stronger to tell him !!

he has now linked these tall tales from the social networking site to his own private website , so although the social networking site can remove and prevent him re posting these things , he can do as he wishes on his own site , or so he thinks !
thanks again , will keep u posted , xxxx
 
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he has now linked these tall tales from the social networking site to his own private website , so although the social networking site can remove and prevent him re posting these things , he can do as he wishes on his own site , or so he thinks !
thanks again , will keep u posted , xxxx

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It's quite easy to work out where a site is hosted - and most hosting companies get quite 'sensitive' about the suggestion that libel is being published on a site on their server (because in the case of a libel action, you would include the web host!!) If you don't know how to find this out, PM me with the name of his site and I should be able to locate his host. Unless it's a dodgy hosting company in a 3rd World country you should be able to take his website off-line!
 
TBH it sounds like the Police need to get their act together if they have previously warned this guy. Don't know if the harassment laws are different in Scotland but I know from my own experience in England that the Police will make every excuse they can to avoid dealing with harassment because it can be difficult.
 
thanks guys , will be speaking to police, solicitor first thing monday and will keep you posted .
I see what you mean re site hosting ,it says at bottom of page who ia website is with . will get onto them too .

thaanks everyone xxxx
 
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