Legal Question in Family Law in New York

I emailed my sister asking her if she was still abusing her adopted daughters.As a abused child myself;I cannot sit back and say nothing.Now she wants to go to the authorities for slander on me and another sister.Can she and what can I do protect myself?


Asked on 1/03/10, 2:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kristen Browde Browde Law, P.C.

First, slander is a civil, not criminal matter. If she goes to "the authorities" they will tell her it's not their problem.

Second, if you wrote only to your sister, you did not slander her. Slander is a statement to a THIRD person, not a statement to the person claiming that he or she has been defamed.

Third, if it was a written statement, it's not slander at all, but rather libel - if it's actionable at all.

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Answered on 1/08/10, 2:43 pm


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