Can I represent myself in a "Name Slander/Defamation" law suit?
I have been told it would cost alot of money,but I see people sue all the time on Peoples Court etc.,on this matter without pricey Lawyers.Can I also have someone Subpoena if I requested if I represent myself?How does this work?
2006-11-05 10:58:22 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
"he who represents himself has a fool for a client" Mark Twain.
Small claims court is easy to do without a lawyer. If you are suing someone for more than the small claims allows, you SHOULD use a lawyer, as not knowing the procedures will no doubt be of substancial handicap.
Most small claims have raised the amounts you can sue for in them. I believe some are up to 10 thousand dollars. You can do anything a lawyer can do, if you represent yourself.
Small claims is essentiall like "the peoples court". You state your case in front of the judge, and the defendant has the chance to state their case.
You can file the lawsuit at the county courthouse, and all the forms are self explanatory, and the clerks can aid you in filling them out, as long as you don't request 'legal advice' from them.
It is fairly inexpensive, usually around 50 dollars to file, and if you win, you get it back from the person you sued. You will also have to "serve" the defendant. You don't do this yourself, you pay an 'officer of the court' or the sherrifs office to do this. It costs around 35-50 dollars.
2006-11-05 11:00:56 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is an old saying when it comes to law. only a fool has himself as a client.
while some areas don't need a lawyer's skills, a slander/ defamation suit is not only complex, but if you try to represent yourself in such a suit, you better just start writing checks to the other guy cuz you will lose.
subpoena power is a normal occurance as is the taking of depositions.
if you don't know how or what you can do, hiore a lawyer to represent you because the practice of law is far more complex than you can imagine. even lawyers hire lawyers to fight a case against them because different areas of law are very complex and not all lawyers can do a good job in all cases.
2006-11-05 19:08:20 · answer #2 · answered by de bossy one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you represent your self? Yes. Should you? Probably not. If you are asking for legal advice on Yahoo Answers, I doubt you understand the laws related to slander/defamation well enough to represent yourself properly. I know I don't.
2006-11-05 19:09:41 · answer #3 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If what is said about you is true it is not slander, or defamation, and any attorny would take your case if it has a chance of getting them a percentage.
2006-11-05 19:07:51 · answer #4 · answered by roger k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you said something you truly believe is true you do not need a attorney unless you can be convinced that what you said was of malicious intent. You are not defending anything but your actions at the time comments were made. Lawyers will do what it takes for profits. Defamation cases are cash cows for attorneys, plaintiffs do not want to end up in court because 1st amendment rights are top considerations in civil courts.
2014-05-04 04:01:30 · answer #5 · answered by bradley o 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋