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If
some one has said or implied something negative about you
that might affect your reputation, you may have a claim
for defamation. The negative comment or implication must
be communicated to a third person.
Truth
is a defence to defamation. If what was said or implied
is true your claim is likely to be unsuccessful.
There
are also other defences. For example the courts have upheld
a defence of 'fair comment' - where the allegedly defamatory
words were an expression of opinion and not a statement
of fact. Some statements are said to be 'privileged' (for
example, statements made in parliament or statements made
by a client to a solicitor). If a statement is 'privileged'
the person making the statement is protected from being
sued for defamation.
What
are you entitled to claim for?
If
you have been defamed you may be entitled to damages for
loss of reputation. In some circumstances you may also be
entitled to be compensated for income lost as a result of
your reputaion being damaged.
How
long will your claim take?
Our
approach is to try to resolve all disputes quickly and cost
effectively, by negotiation. If that isn't successful, and
your claim has to go to court, you may have to wait for
up to a year for a trial.
When
should you seek legal advice?
Many
people who think they have been defamed are keen to get
a retraction or an apology as soon as possible. They are
also often keen to stop the defamtion happening again. It
is therefore wise to get legal advice as soon as you become
aware of the defamatory statement.
Which
solicitors practise in this area?
Our
solicitors who practise in this area is:
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