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Defamation of Character Solicitors
Have you been the victim of hurtful and untrue comments online? We are here to help.
Defamation of Character Solicitors for Businesses and Individuals
The harm caused to a person's or businesses reputation through false posts can be tremendous and the impact overwhelming. Not only does it cause personal distress and lost opportunities, but it may also have lasting impact on the business and on the individual.
We are specialist solicitors in the field of complex defamation of character, harassment andmalicious falsehood cases. We have been handling these cases for decades regularly advising andacting on behalf of business clients and individuals, from writing the initial pre-action protocol lettersto issuing cases in the High court to stop the defamation and harassment.
We deal both in online and offline defamation and with all the key social media platforms, includingGoogle, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Trustpilot, and X (formally known as Twitter), andregularly deal directly with the platforms.
Some examples of the types of cases we handle include:
i. False and defamatory comments and images (especially revenge porn and explicit images) posted / threatened to be posted on social media platforms.
ii. Where people have been in relationships and their private conversations on WhatsApp or text messages or messenger have been leaked, misrepresented and misused against them on social media. This is also breach of privacy.
iii. Websites set up about people which use their names and containing false anddefamatory statements.
iv. Where social media campaigns have been conducted against a business orperson across multiple social media platforms;
v. Negative /false reviews about businesses on Trustpilot/ Google especiallywhere these may be anonymous. We can assist in getting those removed.
vi. Where a newspaper is threatening to publish an article about a business andthe article contains false information and is likely to cause financial andreputational harm to the business ; we have helped to stop publications goingahead or where the article has been published we can help to get it corrected.
If you need help in any aspect of online or offline defamation of character or with a potential civillawsuit for breach of privacy or misuse of data or defamation then we can help. Contact SocialMedia Lawyers. Solicitors for the defamation of character and we will do our best to help you; 0203983 8278
Who Do I Sue for Internet Defamation?
The law is complex. Our focus in every case is to get the offending material taken down as quickly as we can. This includes seeking urgent removal from search engine results.
Our first step is to approach the person who posted the material (if known). We will also approach the publisher – the website operator or host – who may have an interest in removing material because of their potential liability under UK defamation law.
Our initial letter will:
State the precise nature of the defamation
Request the immediate removal of the material from all internet locations in which it appears
Indicate our intention to instigate legal proceedings if our requests are not met
Online Defamation Frequently Asked Questions
What is defamation?
Defamation arises when a statement is made or published about you to another person and that statement causes you serious harm and is untrue.
What if the words were said to me?
If words are said to you directly, you will not have a claim for defamation. For a defamation claim, the words must have been delivered to another person, other than yourself.
What is the legal time limit to make a claim?
An individual must make a claim for defamation within one year from the date the defamatory statement was made. If you are unsure about whether you can make a claim, contact our specialist defamation solicitors for advice.
Can I ask Google/Facebook/Instagram to remove a defamatory statement?
Whilst you can ask the social media platforms to remove the content, our experience shows that in most cases, the social media platforms do not remove content or get involved in a dispute situation. In these circumstances, you need to get professional help.
Can the police help with my defamation case?
Based upon the cases we have seen and advised on, the police do not get involved in defamatory matters; this is treated as a civil, rather than a criminal matter in the majority of cases.