Legal Question in Personal Injury in Washington

Slander

I,m a teacher, I have a parent whose has written a letter to me about her concerns for my role as a leader for a particular club that her son is involved in. In the letter to she uses words such as volatile,fearful as how her sons feels I am toward him. She obviously uses these terms to create the most negative picture of me as a person. I have had to discipline this student at times using proper shcool protocol. This student has never appeared fearful at any time that i have had him. The continues on with many accusations and half truths at best. I have always recieved good evaluation from the school. Does this constitue slander? Would there be legal recourse?


Asked on 9/05/03, 11:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jahnis Abelite ABELITE LAW OFFICES, P.S.

Re: Slander

Slander requires that the other party make defamatory or untrue statements to other third parties. A private letter to you does not constitute such "publication" of statements to the public. If you show the letter toyour principal, then you woul dbe publishing those statements and there again the parent woul dnot be liable. The parent is also talking about the child's feelings and not what kind of person you are or what you do. This sounds like an internal matter for you, your principal and the child and its parents. Without seeing the letter, I cannot say anything else about this situation.

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Answered on 9/09/03, 5:10 pm


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