Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
Someone also accused you on this forum of taking illegal drugs.
Did you not consider sueing them, considering such an allegation might hinder a career in the law?
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It has to actually affect it, a chance that it might isn't enough.
Also, there is no legal aid for defamation cases but there is a different thing you can sue for that IS supported by legal aid but it has even tighter criteria so that would be very little use to most people as well.
I also wouldn't like to encourage that American attitude of "I'll see you in court" either. Court cases aren't settled in a short space of time.
If I had been qualified at the time and it had affected my career then I probably wouldn't think twice about suing the person who had destroyed my dreams. I also can't remember who the burden of proof is on but I think it is the defendant and they do have a few defences available to them...
Libel is one of the nasty areas of law really, the type where you really get your claws out and aim for the eyes. Not something I particularly have much interest in so I'm telling you what I know off memory of being taught it over a short space of time, nothing more than that.
Everything I ever say will be something you can read yourself from a book. I wouldn't like to be the one to apply any law to the facts and give actual advice because I'm just not qualified to do such a thing. So I'll stress again that I'm just going off memory from what I have studied and if people are faced with legal problems that potentially could affect their lives in a substantial way then they should see a solicitor!