- Personal slander is statements made toward you that can cause harm to your reputation and make you an outcast in your own community. An attack on your character, such as allegations of infidelity or having an sexually transmitted disease, are common examples of slanderous statements. Another example is when someone accuses you of committing a crime that can make others in the community fear you or continue discussing the false accusations behind your back.
- You have the right to file a lawsuit in court for damages you suffered from a slanderous statement. However, it will be your responsibility to show proof that the defendant purposefully and knowingly said false statements about you and show you suffered mental anguish because of the statements. These cases are difficult to win because the defendant can claim the statement was the truth or it was his own opinion.
- As a victim of a slander, never respond with a similar statement about the person who originally said it. Avoid contact with the person and do not say anything negative about his character that can get you in trouble. Remember that you have the right to file a claim in court and so does the other person if you slander him.
- Rather than going to court, try to keep your good name by proving the statement was false to other members in your community. Keep going on with your day-to-day life and show the community just how trustworthy you really are. The person saying the false statements about you will only hurt himself if he keeps talking, and if shown statements are incorrect, no one will believe him anyway.
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