I need some legal advice. My daughter is 18 yrs old and has been seeing a boy (17) for the last year. The two of them are crazy about each other. He's been good for her and she's been good for him. The problem is his parents. They've been slandering my daughter, and saying some awful things about her. They've had her in their home, a number of one time. Yet they feel they have the right to say these things. They have said that she has cut his b_lls off, and that the only reason he is with her is that she s_cks his c_ck, and that she has probably done it to 500 guys. His mother even had the nerve to ask if she was pregnant. I'd like to know what my legal options are, as this has gone way too far, and I'm tired of seeing my daughter crying and upset because of these insensitive immature people. Somebody please help!
2006-08-23 13:07:07 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Make note of when, where and to whom the statements were made. The mom just saying it to her is not slander. It has to be:
1. Untrue
2. Damaging
3. Publicized (made to another party)
Once you've made a record of this, you should send her a letter naming specific instances, and threatening suit if she does not stop. Name the way that she has been damaged, and be prepared to back it up. If it is psychological, have her see a therapist or school counselor. In some areas, it is slander per se to accuse someone of sexual misconduct. Thier intent mayor may not matter, depending on the jurisdiction.
Personally, in your situation, I would just not let my daughter be around them. When they lose their son's company because he is always at your house, maybe they'll see.
2006-08-23 13:09:14 · answer #1 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I do have sympathy for your position. You could ask the boy to move in with you, end of problem.
Slander is very hard to get into Court even with the best Lawyers. You must prove Financial loss. A damaged reputation is not recoverable. To prove loss in a court you must show how the action effected your Child in earnings. As a father of two grown Boys, I can tell you also, there must be more to this then meets the eyes. That kind of talk is very weird.
2006-08-23 20:21:27 · answer #2 · answered by jl_jack09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it were my daughter, I'd be on the phone asking questions. Maybe a little confrontation will stop the harassment. If it continues that I would advise my daughter to stop seeing the boy. You might have a case of slander against the parents, but your daughter is of legal age and she would have to be the one to file the complaint.
You're going to need witnesses, dates and times that the statements were made. You'll need to show some kind of damage also.
2006-08-23 20:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by Tia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that you have any legal options even though anybody can sue anybody. They might make a case about your daughter being 18. Try to talk it out calmly as a misunderstanding without angry accusations. You didn't hear them say these thing. I don't know if your daughter heard them say these things.
These kids don't live in a vacuum and his parents must be factored in as to how good they are for one another. Try to find a way to calmly discuss this matter without feeding the lawyers! The courts, even if they could be involved, will not improve this situation.
2006-08-23 20:23:24 · answer #4 · answered by DrB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Slander is the spoken word that is 1) untrue 2) that the speaker knows is untrue 3) is spoken with THE EXPRESS INTENT of defaming or harming the subject of the claims, and 4) is said IN PUBLIC or in the hearing of people who would LIKELY form an unfavorable impression of the subject based on the words.
I don't think this situation meets all the criteria to support a slander conviction.
2006-08-23 20:12:31 · answer #5 · answered by Stuart 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately your daughter and her boyfriend are at an age where it is difficult to ignore and move on, especially when you are talking about his parents.
As a lawyer, I would never advise trying to fight about this issue in court. What will happen is his parents' lawyer will try to prove what they are saying is true. Whether or not it is actually true won't really matter, everyone will think it is true. It is like a really bad form of gossip.
You might try reasoning with them or you might try to let them get to know you and your daughter better. Maybe they will see the error in their ways. If they are not reasonable people, your daughter may have to face a hard reality that it is time to move on.
I wish you and your daughter the best of luck.
2006-08-23 20:44:00 · answer #6 · answered by www.lvtrafficticketguy.com 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really don't have any legal options. These people are simply immature. If you decide to pursue this, however, be careful. If your daughter and her boyfriend have done anything sexually (I'm not accusing her of anything) she is 18 and he is 17, in some places that is technically statutory rape. Check on your local laws concerning that before you do anything, it is not likely because of the small age difference, but it is a possibility.
2006-08-23 20:19:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that this has gone too far, but a slander suit? No. Her boyfriend needs to address this situation with his parents in a firm manner and your daughter needs to ignore their comments just as you should do. You all know your daughter and that she's not capable of being so crass - looks like it's backfiring on the boy's parents!
2006-08-23 20:12:45 · answer #8 · answered by Decoy Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, for 1, there's nothing YOU can do, since your daughter is 18. And for slander, they have to be publicly ruining your reputation. If the Verbal bashing turns into threats, It's assault. She may be able to get them on harassment, but she is in their home. All she has to do is say these things outside in public, THEN you have a slander case
2006-08-23 20:17:17 · answer #9 · answered by dirtmerchant_12b 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She needs to know a long term thing with him is not going to be. A mother in-law like her it is doomed. But many a mother of a son is this way about any girl that is going to take her boy away. He needs some balls and his mommy has them.
This comes from a man that now knows the truth about his mother.
2006-08-23 20:15:04 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋