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Baehrs Solicitors
Abchurch Chambers
24 St. Peter's Road
Bournemouth
Dorset
BH1 2LN
Tel: 01202 292075
Fax: 01202 295454
litigation@baehrs.co.uk
| | | Defamation, libel and slander |
The law of defamation allows people to protect their reputations. Actions exist for slander, which covers the spoken word, and libel. Libel has traditionally covered printed material, but has now been extended to cover radio, television and the internet.
When celebrities or politicians sue for defamation, the result is frequently a high profile court case. However, the law also exists to protect ordinary people, and may apply to circumstances that would surprise you.
For example, if you are refused credit due to incorrect information supplied by a credit reference agency, you could win compensation for the inconvenience and embarrassment caused.
In cases of both libel and slander it is up to the maker of a derogatory statement to prove its truth. Simple insults, however, are not covered by the law.
In most cases, the priority for the victim of defamation is to set the record straight and to prevent further false accusations. A satisfactory resolution can often be achieved by persuading the maker of a statement to apologise and undertake not to repeat the words complained about.
Where such an undertaking is refused, the courts have power to award damages and grant an injunction restraining the defendant from repeating the libel or slander. Breach of an injunction can be punishable by imprisonment.
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