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AggrivatedInNC · Oct 29, 2007, 06:33 PM

I work as a dog groomer in North Carolina and I am having some problems. I woman I used to work with is spreading unprofessional rumors about me and it is affecting my work. She is going into other salons in the area and telling people inappropriate things about how I groom and my lack of experience. Which is a lie and I have proof of how long I have been grooming. She has also been seeking out my clients and telling them this things as well.:(
I do not own a company. I work for a veterinarian office.They know about the whole situation but I want to keep them out of the legal process. I know this is slander. That is what I want to sue her for if she does not back off. Tonight I went by her place of employment and spoke to someone working there. They are going to have the owner of the business call me. I do not want this woman fired. I just want her to stop trying to ruin my career.
Where do I need to go from here? What kind of Lawyer do I need to talk to? Any advice would help.;)

charlotte234s · Oct 29, 2007, 06:42 PM

I think you could just use any lawyer, what she is saying is considered slanderous and you can probably sue her.

excon · Oct 29, 2007, 06:44 PM

Hello A:

I know, it's aggravating. However, even if you could prove what she is saying is not the truth, you have to show damages. IF you have not lost your job, then you have no damages.

excon

N0help4u · Oct 29, 2007, 06:46 PM

Libel, Slander And Defamation, Libel, Slander And Defamation Lawyer And Attorney By Location - Lawyers.com
Like excon said you have to prove it is effecting your income. You may have to get some people together that can prove you have lost business and show your paperwork as documentation that there has been a decline in business since she started this. I am not so sure you have to have lost your job though.

ScottGem · Oct 29, 2007, 06:46 PM

Any civil lawyer should be able to handle a slander case. And you should sue her if you feel you can prove things. She has caused you to lose money and lose business. You shouldn't let her get away with it.

charlotte234s · Oct 29, 2007, 06:46 PM

It's true that there are no damages but you can sue for defamation of character I believe?

charlotte234s · Oct 29, 2007, 07:40 PM

But won't her "poor character" cause loss of income because customers will not go to her?

excon · Oct 29, 2007, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by charlotte234s

But won't her "poor character" cause loss of income because customers will not go to her?

Hello again, charlotte:

If she does sustain losses, of course she can sue. However, as of now, she STILL has her job. In order to win, she would have to PROVE actual losses, not just speculate about what the future might bring.

excon

AggrivatedInNC · Oct 30, 2007, 03:52 AM

It's me--AggrivatedInNC
She has shown no loss because these clients are thanking her for "warning" them about me. Luckily a few clients have come to me and told me what she is doing. I have not experienced any losses. When I said it was affecting my work, the owners and office manager are getting a bit tired of hearing things from this crazy woman. They are getting frustrated with me simply for knowing this woman.
Is there a way to get her to back off without tryinig to sue her? Haha is there some kind of slander restraining order? I want to cause as little problems as possible but I want her to know I'm serious.
Thanks Again!

ScottGem · Oct 30, 2007, 05:36 AM

While you would normally have to prove you encountered a loss, in this case, with the potential of having clients go elsewhere if she continues her campaign, I think you have a case. However, there is nothing you can do without suing. You may not have to go too far though. You need to get an attorney. Its possible that a simple letter from an attorney telling her to cease and desist or you will file suit, may be enough to get her to stop.

AggrivatedInNC · Oct 30, 2007, 10:20 AM

Thank you all very much for your help so far!
I talked to my office manager and the Owners of the vet office I work for and they all think I am doing the right thing. I just have to find a good attorney now. It is hard to find good affordable legal help! :O) Hopefully the letter from an attorney will stop her.

Thanks Again!

ScottGem · Oct 30, 2007, 10:55 AM

Unless she has deep pockets it should scare her. As long as you can prove she has deliberately and mailiciously lied she hasn't a leg to stand on.

JudyKayTee · Oct 30, 2007, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by excon

Hello A:

I know, it's aggravating. However, even if you could prove what she is saying is not the truth, you have to show damages. IF you have not lost your job, then you have no damages.

excon

It also doesn't become slander unless someone believes it and it damages their opinion of you - if someone will come forward and say their opinion of you changed and/or you have damages such as lost income or lost standing in the community, well, you might have a case. Slander is very, very difficult to prove because witnesses are usually very, very reluctant to come forward.

An Attorney - if he believes this woman's conduct is outrageous - will "usually" send a letter telling her to cease and desist. Sometimes the conduct ends, sometimes it escalates.

The other thought is she is doing this to get a reaction from you; often if there is no reaction the behavior stops.

I have investigated more than a few of these cases and they are brutal to prove.