Public Attacks, Are You Legally Protected?

In the age of technology and the use of social media, many people are using these public platforms to communicate with loved ones, reconnect with old friends and express their ideas. But as with everything golden, there is a down side. As spotlighted in the media lately, many of these public forums are used to harass, bully and otherwise exact revenge on someone who is perceived as the enemy.  If you are the on the receiving end of such harassment and you feel it is completely unwarranted, there are steps you can take from a legal standpoint that at a minimum will stop the harassment and at best, may entitle you to recover damages.

Defamation is not only illegal but can have emotional and physical ramifications.  If someone is publicly making unfounded claims as to your personal integrity, business practices or otherwise just bad mouths you, they could be liable from a legal standpoint.  This does not include expressions of opinions however and the two should not be confused. As an example, if someone were to post on a public forum that they think you are a jerk, that is their opinion and as such they are allowed to express that opinion. However, if they were to post that you are a thief and you rip people off, they would have to be able to back that up with proof or face legal action.

Most will slander someone out of frustration or anger without thinking of the consequences. Launching a personal vendetta in a public forum is never a good idea.  If you have been victimized in this manner, you might immediately respond in kind.  However, you should use caution in responding because the same laws that apply to them also apply to you.  If you keep your cool and don’t respond in kind, you stand a better chance of proving your case in the event that you choose to take legal action. 

Vilification of someone without valid proof is an emotional action that should not be responded to or justified with any sort of response.  A private message quietly and maturely asking the person in question to stop is in your best interest. This proves that you tried to handle the situation in a rational manner.  If you are in court, and all of your correspondence is clear and non-threatening versus your attacker’s venomous messages, this will clearly show the judge that you are the one being wronged.

Remember, if the other party is stating an opinion, it is just that, an opinion and there is no legal ground to stand on. If you feel you have legal damages for defamation, speak with an attorney and present him with all of the evidence, including all messages from both sides. 

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