Law

Defamation- What Is The Damage?

November 07, 2021 Paul Brennan
Law
Defamation- What Is The Damage?
Show Notes Transcript

When suing for defamation it is best to start with the end in mind. 

Brennans solicitors
Lawyers - Property, commercial, disputes, Wills and estates 

Brennans solicitors
Lawyers - Property, commercial, disputes, Wills and estates 

Brennans solicitors
Lawyers - Property, commercial, disputes, Wills and estates

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Paul Brennan is the principal of Brennans Solicitors, a law firm located on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, where he practices with his wife, Diane in the areas of business law, litigation, property and wills/estates.

Over the years, by working in various countries, he noticed how similar the law can be. He set out to explain the law in a simple and often humorous way.

He has written several books about law and lawyers.

Further details of his profile can be found on Linkedin.

All coppers are bastards, or at least that is what most football crowds would have you believe.  Yet, despite it being broadcast to the nation and repeated on Match of the Day, policemen do not tend to sue for defamation.

This is more because defamatory statements are usually ignored or treated in kind rather than police officers having a sense of fun.

As an alternative to violence (or a good kicking in the back of a police van), a court action for defamation comes as a poor second.  Most people want a grovelling apology and compensation.  They usually settle for an early apology and modest or no compensation even if they have a strong case.  Nevertheless, they can also enter into a death struggle with their intransigent defamer as they face the anxiety of a trial with their homes on the line, until both sides spend some money and decide it is not worth it, or their spouses tell them to knock it off.

As the defamed, you can claim for financial loss such as loss of business, customers, employment.  You can also claim for personal injury such as depression and your personal distress, anxiety, grief, annoyance, hurt feelings caused by the injury to your reputation which is presumed, even for financial planners. 

You do not need to prove that the defamer was being malicious but it can result in a bigger payout as would proof of their recklessness, indifference, lack of apology or general stupidity. 

Unless you can prove financial or physical injury do not expect to make a killing.  Somewhere between $10k and $50k would not be unusual and over $100K is fairly exceptional.  The costs awarded against the losing side are usually a significant penalty.

The dead cannot be defamed and a defamation action dies with you.  This is a big incentive to hang around or to finish your enemies off.

Conclusion

Be outraged by insults against you but consider carefully the response. 

But sometimes the potential damage as a result of the defamatory statement is so great that you have no choice but to commence proceedings to protect your reputation. For instance, being accused of sexually abusing your child. Sun Tzu advised that on Desperate Ground there is no alternative but to fight or be destroyed.


© Paul Brennan 2018. All rights Reserved.

Extract from "The Art of War, Peace & Palaver: The Contentious Guide to Legal Disputes"