Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Texas

defamation
There is a non-profit church organization that has 400 people in it. The vice president, secretary, and two members of the organization decided to write a letter to the president of the organza ion about four OTHER members. The letter stated that these four members threatened people in the organization and stole money from the organization. The accusation in the letter that the V.P., secretary, and the two members wrote were false. Unfortunately, this letter got around to the rest of the organization (400 people). Is the accusation in the letter considered DEFAMATION?? Also, the letter was signed by the secretary but not by the V.P. and the other two members. The secretary is scared that there is going to be a lawsuit filed against him for defamation. The secretary states that the V.P. and the other two members were involved in writing the letter. The V.P. and the other two members admitted that they did write the letter (but their names are not on the letter). In your opinion, is there a case against the secretary, V.P., and the other two members??

Asked on 10/30/03, 5:43 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

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Re: defamation

False statements about a person which cause him emotional and/or economic injury are termed 'libel' in the law. A libel action is brought to recover damages from the wrongdoer who made the false statements with the intent to injure. Truth is ALWAYS a defense to a libel action.

Answered on 10/30/03, 6:13 pm

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