Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Washington

Do I have case for libel or slander defamation

I received a letter from a lawyer representing the owner of a business for which I had a management agreement with an option to purchase. The letter stated that I had embezzled money from the business and owner terminated the agreement. In reality, I had given the owner a deposit in the amount 22,500 prior to taking over the business and put in close to $100,000 to run the business. I couldn't afford to keep it going and called the owner to take it back. He is asking for $30,000 more from to pay for bills that were outstanding at the time of my departure.

So in short the allegations made in the letter also accuse me of criminal charges. I did not even take a salary working there, let alone embezzle money. Do I have a case for libel defamation?

Thanks in advance.


Asked on 7/27/05, 6:41 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Christopher Steuart IT Forensics, Inc.

Re: Do I have case for libel or slander defamation

In Washington the damage to reputation is simply called defamation. You do not, from the facts that you have described, have a case for defamation. One of the requirements for defamation is publication of the defamatory statement. Since it is directed to you through the lawyer and was not published, that is not defamatory.

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Answered on 7/28/05, 5:24 am


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