Orange County Slander Attorney
It can take years of hard work to build your reputation, but it takes little to tarnish it. A disgruntled employee, business partner, or competitor can try to hurt you and your business by writing or saying untrue and damaging things about you. This is known as defamation. Defamation can be in writing (libel) or oral (slander). Defamation can also be trade libel when a party attempts to disparage the nature and quality of goods and services.
These false, damaging remarks can hurt your chances of employment, chances of securing a coveted contract, or hurt your standing in the community. It can cause shame, mortification, hurt feelings, and losing business.
Defamation can arise in many circumstances. The following are a few examples in which defamation may arise:
- A former employer falsely informs a prospective employer about an employee’s performance, competence, or moral character
- A business competitor tells customers or vendors your products and services do not work
- An accusation that your business is guilty of illegal or unlawful trade practices or that a business violates state and federal law
- Using defamatory statements to control the market
- An investor broadcasts to others that your business is a scam or a Ponzi scheme
- A former business partner broadcasts you are a criminal, you stole from the investors, or you have drug or gambling problems
Newport Beach Interference with Contract Lawyer
Many times, the consequences of a defamatory statement can interfere with either an existing contract or a prospective business relationship. Once the other party learns of the defamatory statement and suspects it is true, or might be true, they no longer want to do business with you. This shows the power of an allegation – even if it is false.
Invasion of Privacy
Invasion of privacy is the intrusion into your personal life, without just cause, which can give you the right to sue the person or entity that intruded on your privacy rights. It may encompass workplace monitoring, internet privacy, data collection, and other means of disseminating private information.
The remedies for defamation, interference with contract, and invasion of privacy can include an injunction, a retraction letter, damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.