It can hit you like a ton of bricks. Everything is going just fine in your personal life, your community, and your professional life, and then somebody writes something untrue and damaging about you and everything suddenly shifts. Suddenly people are shunning you, or no longer willing to do business with you, or thinking so much less of you that you constantly feel like you have to defend yourself, even though what was written about you was untrue. Though it’s natural to feel helpless in this situation, there is something that you can do – you can sue for libel.

If you’re wondering how to sue someone for libel and whether doing so will help, call the Philadelphia law firm of Bochetto & Lentz today. Our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys will explain all the steps in the process so that you have a complete understanding of exactly what constitutes libel, what is needed to prove your case, and what remedies may be available to you.

Libel is a form of defamation of character, and though people may believe that the U.S. Constitution provides them with the ability to say and write whatever they want to because they have free speech, that is not exactly true. It is not permissible to knowingly or negligently write or say something about another that will ruin their lives or cause them great damage or negative consequences, and when somebody does this they can be sued in civil court.  In order to sue someone for libel, four things need to be proven. They are:

• The statement that was written (or spoken in the case of slander) needs to be demonstrably and objectively false. If a statement is subjective, or stated as opinion, it is not considered libel.
• The statement that was written needs to have been seen by a third party. It can’t be something that a person simply said to themselves or in their personal journal.
• The statement can not have been privileged. Certain types of speech are protected, including witness testimony in court and statements by lawmakers in legislative chambers.
• The statement must have caused quantifiable injury. This could include loss of relationship, loss of standing, loss of money or property, loss of job.

Though the criteria for filing a defamation case set a high bar, this does not mean that a case can not be won. If somebody has libeled or slandered you and it has caused you damages, you have a right to take action to restore your reputation and receive compensation for the damage that has been done to you. The Philadelphia law firm of Bochetto & Lentz have extensive experience and a proven record of success in helping people who have suffered from libelous statements made against them. Contact us today to see how we can help you.

Wondering How To Sue Someone For Libel? Read more HERE.