How to Protect Yourself From Internet Defamation

Protect Yourself From Online Defamation

 

As technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, so do how someone can try to ruin your name or reputation online.

The prevalence of Internet defamation, slander, and libel is growing at alarming rates, destroying businesses, livelihoods, and reputations. When this happens, having a skilled defamation lawyer on your side is a must.

Mullen Law Firm’s Corinne Mullen is one of the few attorneys handling these cases. She has the specialized skill, experience, and resources you need to obtain the compensation and justice you deserve.

Defamation claims are also on the rise. As online defamation is prevalent on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, and Twitter, individuals and businesses are more vigilant than ever in protecting their good name online.

While a negative online declaration can harm someone’s reputation, that doesn’t necessarily make it defamatory. If you’ve been accused of defamatory statements after making an accurate statement on the Internet, Mullen Law Firm’s Internet defamation lawyers may be able to represent you.

 

What is Defamation?

Defamation is a false and unprivileged statement of fact that is harmful to someone’s reputation, published with the intent to cause damage.

There are two types of defamation: libel, which is written defamation, and slander, which is spoken defamation.

Online defamation law protects people from false statements that could damage their reputations. If you’ve been the victim of defamation, you may be able to file a defamation claim.

Elements of a Defamation Claim

In order for a defamation claim to be successful, the following defamation claim elements must be met:

• The statement must be false
• The statement must be published
• The statement must be unprivileged
• The statement must be harmful
• There must be intent to cause damage
• The statement must be about the plaintiff

If you believe you’ve been the victim of defamation, contact Mullen Law Firm for a free consultation with our defamation lawyers. We can help you understand your legal options and protect your reputation.

What are Some Defenses of Defamation Claims?

If you’ve been accused of making defamatory statements, there may be defenses available to you.

Some common defenses to defamation claims include:

Truth

As we mentioned earlier, defamation requires a false statement. If the statements you made are true, that is a defense to defamation. While the truth may be a defense, it can be difficult to prove. It’s important to have evidence to back up your claim of truth.

Opinion

Opinions are not statements of fact and, therefore, cannot be defamatory. Whether a statement is an opinion or a statement of fact will often be a question for a jury to decide.

Privilege

There are certain situations in which defamation is privileged, meaning you cannot be sued for defamation. For example, statements made in judicial or legislative proceedings are privileged. Some types of common law privileges may also apply, depending on the situation.

Absolute privilege generally applies to statements made by government officials in their official capacity.

Qualified privilege generally applies to statements made in a private capacity, but where there is a duty to make the statement or where the statement is in the public interest.

The First Amendment

In some cases, the First Amendment may protect your right to make a statement. The First Amendment generally protects freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Statute of Limitations

There is a limited time in which you can file a defamation claim, known as the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for defamation claims varies from state to state. If you don’t file your claim within the statute of limitations, you may be barred from doing so.

How Can an Internet Defamation Attorney Help You With Your Defamation Claim?

The ultimate goal of an Internet defamation claim is to help the victim obtain compensation for their losses and to put a stop to the defamatory behavior.

An Internet defamation lawyer can help you by:

• Assessing your claim to determine if you have a valid claim
• Gathering evidence to support your claim
• Filing an online defamation lawsuit
• Strategically negotiating with the person or entity who made the potentially libelous statements
• Defending against any defenses that may be raised

Ultimately, an experienced defamation lawyer can help you protect your reputation and obtain the compensation you deserve.

At Mullen Law Firm, we’ll work hard to not only help you financially recover but also to get the defamatory statement taken down so you can begin to recover from the damage it has caused and move on to a better and brighter future.

Alternatively, if you’re accused of a false statement, our internet lawyers will help you prove your innocence and protect your rights under the First Amendment.

Get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your case and help you understand your available options.