Legal Question in Criminal Law in Florida

Slander/Libel

Someone that did not want to use my boss's A/C service because his license has past violations posted MY name and phone # on craigslist, saying that I should not be used for service. First of all, it is my BOSS who has a licensing problem, not me. Posting MY personal phone # just because I am the person he contacted will prevent me from getting work, and hindering my ability to make a living. What legal recourse do I have? Isn't this libel or slander?


Asked on 6/23/09, 8:17 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Brent Rose The Orsini & Rose Law Firm

Re: Slander/Libel

This is libel, because it's written, as opposed to slander, which is spoken. But when you sue, you just call it "defamation," which is both.

If you can prove that you've actually lost money because of this, you can sue the person. To prove you've lost money, you have to bring at least one person to court on your trial day who will say, "I would have hired this person except for what I read on Craigslist." The money you win is equal to the money you can prove you would have made off the people who didn't hire you because of the posting.

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Answered on 6/24/09, 2:44 pm


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