A newspaper reported incorrectly. They showed my name, age and address in the recent court cases in my county. I live in a small village of 12,000 people. Now all the people that read this believe i did this crime...and it was not me. it was someone else with a similar name, different age. it was somekind of sexual assault case. How could a newspaper get this so mixed up? I am imbarrassed, and humilated. My buddy is a police man, he found it online today and told me about it. Is this newspaper liable for damages such as: defamation of character, causing me humiliation and distress? This is a nightmare for me. I know I will contact a lawyer tommorrow. I am so upset, i was hoping someone out here had some ideas. My name is ruined now over this...i already had 2 freinds email me today and ask what did i do! these are my best freinds since kindergarten...can you imagine what everyone else is thinking?
2007-01-08 15:01:41 · 11 answers · asked by dragon 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
First, contact the newspaper and do everything that you can to prove them wrong and to print a retraction. You might need legal help to get this done and legal help to not only answer your questions but to get whatever damages may be applicable.
Unfortunately, though, restoring your reputation is another problem entirely. Explain all of this to your friends, and keep explaining it. Ask your police officer buddy if your name (not this other person but you) is in any police records anywhere. In the long run, that would be of more trouble to you than any erroneous news story.
2007-01-08 15:12:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact the newspaper and DEMAND a front-page retraction or you WILL sue for slander, libel, defamation of character, and you will sue for enough money to bankrupt the business. You may need an attorney, but try to settle it out of court first. You should also demand that the run a picture of you AND a picture of the convicted SIDE BY SIDE so they know the difference. I have lived through a parallel nightmare - I was accused of something I didn't do, but had no way of proving it. I wish you all the best success in dealing with this.
2007-01-08 15:07:36 · answer #2 · answered by Paul H 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
nope, you can only ask that they print a retraction, which will be a small notice in paper in a section that few read. They can not be held liable for anything. My neighbor was just put in paper for violating probation, she is in her fifties, never been in trouble. Paper gets info from police reports.
2007-01-08 15:09:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Continue with the lawyer.
Contact the newspaper and demand they put a large correction notice out. I would then personally put up notices for member of my community to see explaining what had happened. I would go as far as to put notices up in bank, grocery stores etc.
Good luck.
2007-01-08 15:06:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Write the editor and demand a retraction, and ring up all your friends to explain that you're perfectly innocent. Good idea to get a lawyer; hope it goes well.
2007-01-08 15:05:22 · answer #5 · answered by Rat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your lawyer should contact the paper, and have them print a correction on the front page, where it WON'T be missed. Good luck to you.
2007-01-08 15:05:42 · answer #6 · answered by Jess H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's called Libel. False accusations in writing that cause you harm in the community.
2007-01-08 15:12:28 · answer #7 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
JUST CALL, WRITE OR EMAIL THE NEWSPAPER AND TELL THEM THAT IT'S NOT YOU AND THEY'LL PUT A NOTICE IN THE PAPER THE NEXT DAY THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE AND NOT YOU. DO THIS NOW.
2007-01-08 15:05:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it's a genuine mistake then all they will have to do is print a retraction and correction.
2007-01-08 15:06:14 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No they are not liable. It was a mistake, without intent.
2007-01-08 15:05:17 · answer #10 · answered by kingstubborn 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋