Defamation & Slander

[Diane Kay]

Oregon

My 14 year old step daughter is making false claims of child abuse in order to manipulate her way so as to make herself look better and get out of punishment for thefts she has comitted and fraud and forgeries she has comitted. When she got caught stealing her older sisters thong underwear we told her she was going to have to return them to her sister along with the cigarettes she stole from her sisters girlfriend nand tell them what she has done. The very next morning she ran away and called the very same sister claiming abuse. The stories she is telling are all lies and now her sister is repeating these stories to other peoples including school authorities asnd the human services department. Before she started going to these outside sources I had confronted her about the teenagers lies and that she needs to here the other end of what is really going on. Now her refusal to here tha truth has led to her going to these outside sources and spreading these rumors as truth. What can I do about this situation? I am a local grocery manager and can't afford for such rumors to be spread through out our small community.

 

[CdwJava]

What would you LIKE to do about it? In the long run, there just may be nothing you can do. Sorry.

To prove slander you would likely have to prove that these allegations were knowingly false. Even if exaggerations, that would not make them false. And if she has a perception that is different than yours, it still does not rise to slander.

So, unless you are willing to hire an attorney and sue her for slander (and how much money does a teenager have), there is really not a whole lot you can do about this.

- Carl

 

[Ohiogal]

What would you LIKE to do about it? In the long run, there just may be nothing you can do. Sorry.

To prove slander you would likely have to prove that these allegations were knowingly false. Even if exaggerations, that would not make them false. And if she has a perception that is different than yours, it still does not rise to slander.

So, unless you are willing to hire an attorney and sue her for slander (and how much money does a teenager have), there is really not a whole lot you can do about this.

- Carl

Technically mom would be suing herself as parents are responsible legally for whatever civil problems there minor children face. If the child breaks a window then mom and dad are sued. Kids may do the time for their crimes, but mom and dad are responsible for payment. SO mom, how much time do you want to waste suing yourself?