Can I sue my parents for defamation?

Question

I had an argument with my parents aprox 9 months ago and they kicked out my fiance, my daughter and I. Since then they have been telling people (i.e. their pharmacist, friends and relatives) that I had tried to sabotage's my mother's car in order to invoke harm upon them (a complete lie). They didn't even have the police look into the matter. Since then my friends and relatives have been asking me about this matter and I tell them that this is untrue but I still believe my parents may be telling people lies about me. I would like to know if I have any legal ground on which to sue them.

I have not talked to my parents since this incident. They are mentally unstable in my mind since: 1) my mother is bipolar 2) my father is an alcoholic.

I don't know where to go with this situation. My parents have since contacted a lawyer to gain Grandparent rights (staute 9:2-7.1 NJSA) and feel them unfit to see my daughter due to past events.

Answer 1

Legally speaking, if you want to sue them in civil court you're going to have to prove that the things that they said caused you damage in some way. If you can demonstrate that you lost a job (or didn't get one) or some other business deal, for example, then you might have something.

It sounds like you've mostly suffered an inconvenience rather than actual damages. So what you might look into instead is getting a restraining order on them. This is exactly what restraining orders are intended to do: stop people from doing damaging behaviours BEFORE they cause damage to you. All you'll have to demonstrate is that people are hearing these untrue stories.

With the restraining order in place, you can then sue them for violating it if they continue to spead such nonsense. In other words, it gives you very good grounds for future action if you need to take it.

Hopefully you won't need to go to such extremes, though. Good luck.

Answer 2

Why not try this? If you can't sit down or call them on the phone with a heated argument and get your point across, contact a lawyer and ask them how much it would cost just to have a letter sent to them to cease and disist with the comments. Being that it would be from a lawyer they may stop. Have the lawyer state that if it doesn't stop then further actions will be taken as far as...deframation or slander or whatever else he feels fit. Or even call the lawyer ahead of time in case he feels you shouldn't argue with them. I had a relative that did that to his own daughter. Went around telling everybody she was a tramp. I was fuming. She was a really nice girl. But because he didn't like the boyfriend, he made it sound like she would lay it out for anybody at anytime. Now she's got a great husband and things are ok again. But the point is that she got smeared by all that heard him.
I would do that. Either call them or contact a lawyer. Sometimes a letter from a lawyer is enough for them to shut up and take notice. But be prewarned. It won't sit easy and things will be tough. Decide if you really really really want to put this wedge between you and your folks. Let your rep stand up for you. If you start being nasty like they claim you are being then people will believe the rumors. If you stay being the same person you are and just explain things to people that you meet that your parents are mad because of whatever and that they are having a hard time with it, then people will probably understand. Good luck. The silent treatment always worked for me. I went for over 2 years not speaking to my sister and she came back begging. It wasn't my fault to begin with and she knew it all along. But she was the one that needed me all along and she was the one that was hurting. I wanted to give in but I had to prove a point to her no matter how much it hurt me. Now I get a little more respect out of her. She watches her quick little tongue when I'm around. It's not fair that she cut me up all the time and I never ask for it.

Answer 3

You do have legal grounds to sue, however you probably won't win. Defamation(in your case, slander)is very hard to prove especially if it's a he said, she said kinda thing. You're the one with the burden of proof so you'd have to 1)prove they said stuff that caused you harm and 2)prove nothing happened to their car or you didn't do it. Also, there are first amendment issues and such. So basically, you can sue, but the chances of winning are slim and even if you do win, the compensation for defamation is usually not enough to even cover legal fees. Sorry though, that's aweful to hear parents treating their children that way.

Answer 4

Dam legal grounds, Your parents are the most honest people in your life. Whom you can count on to be truthful, honest, caring, concern and wishing nothing but the best for you in life. Maybe they have made an mistake on how they expressed that to you but, your parents are human to. And being human we are all prone to errors. But regardless no one on earth will Love you more than your parents. You may have done something stupid or crazy and they are mad at you but they still Love you. You need to grow up. You say that they kicked you and your fiance and daughter out. Why was you not out on your own anyway. Instead of mooching off your parents, And adding two more to mooch. Plus I can tell your not telling the whole story. What you need do is make up with your parents and grow up. And forget about suing
your parents. They can probably sue you for free loading since you got out of High School. If you Graduated at all. You don't sound like the type. So grow your A__ up and make up with your parents before they pass on and then its to late. One of the Bible commandments say Honer thy Mother and Father.

Answer 5

Your parents are doing harm to themselves, not you, by making these lies up. People must think they are crazy for even telling these stories about their own child, whether true or false. If you try to sue them you will then become known as the bad guy for suing your parents, I would however get a restraining order against them, this way, they cant come near you and if they ever make false charges the police will see you have taken the first step to stop them from approaching you. They sound loopy, you are better without them. God Bless and good luck.

Answer 6

I'm pretty sure you do, I can't imagine having that kind of relationship with my parents. I wouldnt sue them though, it would just jepordize any chance of working on building p your realtionship with them. I'm not saying what they did was right, thats a horrible thing to do, especially to there daughter. You should try talking it out with them. Warn them that you are considering sueing them. They are after all rining your reputation. If they don't stop (warning them my scare them) then go through with it, maybe thats the only way for them to learn thier lesson, and if thats what it takes, that's what you need to do. You can have the whole world thinking you're a monster!

Answer 7

heavily? No. what type of lies could they be spreading that you'll favor to take them to courtroom? if you're an man or woman, and don't have a issue with shame, you are able to do it. if you're a minor, there are 2 subject matters: a million) if you're a minor, you won't be able to sue all individuals in courtroom, your father and mom do it on your behalf. As your father and mom hence may be the flexibility defendants, the courtroom could favor to nominate a father or mom ad litem for you. reliable luck getting the courtroom to attempt this for a defamation case. i have in no way heard of a courtroom permitting a minor to sue his/her legal guardians for a tort. in the journey that they damage you, it truly is a CPS issue. 2) regardless of the truth that in case you gained, the judgment could be on your father and mom to pay you. you're a minor. Your funds is their funds. They get it suitable again. type of defeats the objective, suitable? i wager the exception could be if the judgment became paid right into a believe account that became secure until eventually your 18th birthday.

Answer 8

Defamation of Character would have to be levied upon facts anf or witnesses that the untruth has casued hardhsip to you and your family.

For instance if the facts show that a rumour that was spread by your parents caused you to lose your job you would have a solid ground case as long as you have a witness or actual person it was told too to witness on your behalf.

Cases of Libel would be if the printed somehting about in a paer that was untrue.

Answer 9

Sure, you can sue for slander -- which is the speaking of untruths that cause harm to your reputation and thus cause damages. But is that something you really want to do? Do you want to take your parents to court over a rumor? Also, with slander (as opposed to libel, or written defamatory statements) you have to prove damages. Can you prove that you were actually financially harmed by these rumors? If not, why bother?

Answer 10

It depends on the local jurisdiction but usually you will need to prove that the statement was made with "actual malice". In translation, that means that the person making the statement knew the statement to be false, or issued the statement with reckless disregard as to its truth. Defamation cases tend to be difficult to win, and damage awards tend to be small. You may want to think hard before suing your parents. Check out this website for more info.

http://www.expertlaw.com/library/personal_injury/defamation.html