Legal Question in Civil Litigation in South Carolina

Recently my husband has been arrested and accused of armed robbery. I was googling the story and found a website with story headline "Nigger robs woman in a church" with his picture under the article. I am truly offended. Do i have grounds to sue this individual?


Asked on 6/23/10, 9:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

No. The First Amendment's guarantee of free speech covers even speech that is outrageously offensive and ignorant. It's possible that your husband would have grounds to sue, but that would depend on what the article said. Among the things he would have to prove would be some identifiable harm that the article caused. Merely offending would not be enough. Merely offending you would be even less justification for a lawsuit.

I realize that you are in genuine pain over this. I am not trying to minimize your outrage. But based upon the limited information you have provided, it seems that the law is not on your side.

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Answered on 6/24/10, 1:40 pm


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