Attorney For Defamation, Libel, And Slander

As a defamation lawyer with decades of experience in business law, internet-marketing law and litigation, I often get questions about how to remove defamatory material from the internet. Defamatory material may include fake online reviews or a former employee publicly spreading false information about a company after termination.

Although each and every citizen of the United States is entitled to their First Amendment rights, there are consequences for deliberately spreading false information that may damage somebody’s livelihood or reputation.

If your reputation or business is threatened by false information on the internet or through other public channels, contact an experienced defamation attorney at George Law today.

What is Defamation

In today’s highly interconnected world, maintaining a positive reputation has never been more important. With the rapid spread of information through social media and the internet, false or unfounded statements made to a third party have the potential to have a dramatic impact on an individual’s reputation within a matter of minutes. Known formally as defamation, this type of statement can ruin an individual’s reputation, destroying their businesses, employment opportunities, and even having a negative impact on their private social lives. Because of this, acts of defamation should be taken very seriously.

There are two types of defamation covered under the legal system – libel and slander. They differ in the manner in which the false statement is made, however they both are viewed as equally damaging in the eyes of the law. Libel is committed when an individual is defamed through writing – such as a formal letter or electronic written communication such as emails, social media posts, text messages, etc. Slander on the other hand is when defamation occurs through speaking, such as a phone call, television broadcast, or even in a meeting.

Cause for Compensation

While words can never be taken back after they are written or spoken, the damages caused by false statements can be compensated for through legal action. This can include any tangible loss, financial or otherwise, that results from the defamatory statements. Typically this will include lost wages and/or benefits from a job, or profits from a business that were lost as a result of the false statements. In situations where the statements were intentionally made to cause harm or in bad faith, the individual or business may be entitled to receive additional compensation for damages.

These damages can be quite significant depending on the parties involved. For instance, if a notable individual such as a celebrity or business leader were to make a false statement against a particular business or its leadership, the damages could amount to millions of dollars in lost revenue. Because of the financial risks from a defamation suit, individuals whose influence has the capability of having such dramatic financial impact are usually wise enough to avoid making false statements and therefore suits involving this level of damages are rare.

Working with a Defamation Lawyer

Determining whether or not statements can be qualified as defamation can be difficult as these situations often involve high emotions which can cloud judgement. In addition to ascertaining whether statements qualify as defamation in the first place, it then must be determined what level of compensation for damages can be realistically achieved. This is very challenging for an individual or company to determine on their own.

An experienced attorney specializing in libel and slander lawsuits is uniquely qualified to handle this, as they have the knowledge and expertise of the law itself as well as the court system where these suits will be heard. The attorneys at George Law have decades of combined experience working with defamation, with a track record of successfully getting their clients the compensation they deserve.

If you are the victim of defamation or false statements being made against you, contact our office today to see how an experienced defamation lawyer at George Law can help protect your reputation.