Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in California

Can I be sued for defamation of character?

I have a neighbor/ex friend who I know a lot about. He is 42 years old. He told me that he came onto his little sister when they were children, he watches porn with minors in it (he's deleted all the evidence), he has physically, sexually, mentally and verbally abused his younger brother (I witnessed this). He is ALWAYS saying that he wants to hurt people and he wants to do "bad things". I believe that he is a potential serial killer, rapist and/or child molester based on things he's done in the past and the way he talks about things he wants to do. His family protects him, I personally think they are afraid of him. They have never called the police on him. I have called the police on him at least 3 times, once when he was chasing me in a car, another time when he broke into my house and another time when he was threatening suicide. Unfortunately the two times I was calling him when he was acting/being violent towards me, he wasn't caught due to technical problems, such as my roomate thought the police were there for him, so he lied to the police and the second time he ran away b4 the police got there and the police couldn't find him and left before I could give them his name and info. So basically there is no proof of him doing anything wrong/bad. I feel like I am obligated to warn all the other people in the neighborhood that he could potentially be dangerous, but I don't want to be sued for defamation of character. This man doesn't work, he is on disability, so it's not like his income/economic status will be affected. Also, could I still be sued if I state that it's MY OPINION that he could be dangerous rather than I know it for a fact?


Asked on 2/08/10, 11:29 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Don't do it! If you go to the police precinct and talk with a detective, you can explain all of your concerns in a more quiet and thoughtful way than during the times they responded to your premises. You can also bring whatever evidence you have accumulated to explain your concerns about your neighbor. Before you speak to law enforcement, organize your thoughts so that you present the most serious issues first, i.e. facts and NOT opinion, rather than getting bogged down with minutiae. Your complaints to law enforcment are considered protected activity.

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Answered on 2/13/10, 1:09 pm


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