defamation?

Question

can I be sued for defamation if I believe what I said or wrote about someone's BEHAVIOUR (not character) is true? e.g. if I wrote that he is giving me undue pressure to do certain unethical things (which is my point of view, although the person concerned disagreed)

Answer 1

you can't be sued for your "feelings"

if you say, "john doe forced me to do this." john doe could give you a hard time and threaten defamation. you're better off making the statement, "i feel..." as this is your feeling or belief.

Answer 2

The allowable defenses

Justification: the defendant proves that the statement was true. If the defense fails, a court may treat any material produced by the defense to substantiate it, and any ensuing media coverage, as factors aggravating the libel and increasing the damages.

Fair Comment: the defendant shows that the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held, even if they were motivated by dislike or hatred of the plaintiff.

Privilege: the defendant's comments were made in Parliament or under oath in court of law or were an accurate and neutral report of such comments. There is also a defense of 'qualified privilege' under which people, who are not acting out of malice, may claim privilege for fair reporting of allegations which if true were in the public interest to be published.

Answer 3

Depending on who you are talking about and if others believe what you wrote as well and it affects their view of that person after reading it. It is better voicing your opinion than writing it down, now they have proof.

Answer 4

people can sue you for anything, catch is they have to prove financial damages to get anything from you.

They might even win, but collecting the award woudl take another hearing, so if you have nothing to lose, don't worry about it!

Answer 5

Probably not - and certainly not so long as you do not say it to anyone except the person in question.