Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Florida
Neighbors Letter to Police
A neighbor writes a letter to police that says ''There has been a number of strange cars that are stopping at my neighbors house, Mr. X, for the last two weeks. It is very suspect to me. Can you please check into it?''
Police find that the neighbor was recuperating from surgery and the ''strange cars'' were friends and colleagues stopping by.
Neighbor who wrote the letter also posted it on the community website the day they wrote it and will not remove it months later saying they want to ''preserve written community history''. Neighbor who had surgery has found that this letter is highly visable when people search for his name and he believes people are avoiding him. A vacation place may not have rented to him because of what they found online. Does he have any legal recourse?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Neighbors Letter to Police
NOTE: This communication is not intended as and should not be interpreted as legal advice. Rather, it is intended solely as a general discussion of legal principles. You should not rely on or take action based on this communication without first presenting ALL relevant details to a competent attorney in your jurisdiction and then receiving the attorney's individualized advice for you. By reading the "Response" to your question or comment, you agree that the opinion expressed is not intended to, nor does it, create any attorney-client relationship, nor does it constitute legal advice to any person reviewing such information, nor will it be considered an attorney-client privileged communication. If you do not agree, then stop right here, and do not read any further.
Based on the limited facts that you have given, there is no cause of action that I can see. If the communication is true, then what has the neighbor done that is improper?
Obviously, one would think it would be the right thing to do but an error in good judgment does not usually make for good ground for a lawsuit.
Scott R. Jay, Esq.
Re: Neighbors Letter to Police
probably not. why don't you post several letters from both he and others describing why others were visiting and that he was recuperating from a surgery. In that manner, when they search for his name, the response will come up as well. whomever maintains the web site might be able to be convinced to appens a response or explanation to the original letter.
Re: Neighbors Letter to Police
In my opinion you should take action against this neighbor as posting a letter to the police seems to imply that illicit activity was taking place on your property. Leaving the letter on the website after the fact seems to further this impression. You can get an attorney to send a letter to this neighbor advising of defamation law and its ramifications. Also, and/or alternatively, you can contact the website operator and request that they take down the potentially libelous material.
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