This guide grew out of a brief web page called "Defamation of Character Quick Tips." Thanks to reader feedback, we asked the author of Dancing With Lawyers to write Fighting Slander, a plain-English guide to defending yourself against defamation – whether slander or libel. Unlike the expensive lawyers' manuals that are about rich publishers' worries, this guide deals with the defamation ordinary people and businesses face: slander in the workplace, from former bosses, ex-spouses, competitors, and other situations found in daily life – including Internet libel.

The guide is written with two goals, in this order:
    1. Solving your problems without a lawyer.
    2. If that fails, being able to hire a lawyer as a smart customer ... which can save you thousands of dollars.
        For example, the guide treats "People Who Just Don't Get It", "The Middle Ground", and "Major-League Kooks" differently. The first type will probably shut up when you explain the basics of defamation law to them. The second type usually need a threatening letter from a lawyer to shut up. With the third group, kooks, it's war – and you have to make a choice on slugging it out in court, or living with it. This guide always looks at the (much cheaper) non-legal alternatives first.

The guide is applicable in all 50 states. Because most slander and libel law is a result of Federal appeals court decisions, or the U.S. Supreme Court, it applies across the country.

What The Readers Say

"You guys have written an EXCELLENT guide. Thank you. It's beautifully written, and perfect for a lay-person." – David C. Lowell, West Milford, New Jersey

" I can't thank you enough for such wonderful, fast, and hassle-free service." – Albert W. Weggeman, Green Valley, Arizona

"It was well worth the price. I wrote a letter to the judge using some really profound language I took from the guide, and the judge decided in my favor. So I want to say thanks. I got the result I wanted!" – Kathleen Diamond, Bay Shore, New York

Our Guarantee
If you are not satisfied with the guide, you may return it for a full refund, no questions asked. If you lose the file – computer crash, whatever – anytime in the next year, we will replace it at no charge. (Our privacy policy is short: we don't sell information, and never have.)

Fighting Slander - Personal Edition – a 66 page guide in PDF format. $19.95.    (A lot of research has gone into this guide. It would cost you several thousand dollars to reproduce it – or get it from an expensive libel lawyer. Table of contents below.)

Fighting Slander - Business Edition – a 73 page guide in PDF format. $24.95.    This contains all the material in the personal edition, plus additional material – not listed in the table of contents below – about the particular problems businesses and organizations face with media exposure, competitors' slander, and whispering campaigns. It may also be useful for public figures, or those in the news a lot.

The guide is fully printable and also readable on any personal computer, PDA, or newer Kindle. The download link will be emailed to you within 30 minutes.

The charge will be billed through our parent company Hastings Research. Please note that the download link will arrive in an email from "Hastings Research" not DancingwithLawyers.com (in case you have spam filters set up).

Fighting Slander Table of Contents
Third Edition, updated and expanded.

Introduction

How To Use This Guide

The Law In Brief

Definitions of Defamation of Character, Slander, and Libel

    Defamation By the Press, and Defamation By Individuals

Elements of Defamation of Character, Slander and Libel

    Identifiable Victim

    Falsehood

    "Malice"

    Emotional Distress

Good Defenses

    Truth

    Privilege

    Public Figure

    Satire

    The Comments Were Invited by the Plaintiff

    Opinion

    Libel-proof

    He's Dead!

    Words Spoken In the Heat of Anger

Worthless Defenses

    "I only told one person!"

    "I was just repeating it."

    "I didn't give his/her name."

    "It was just a practical joke."

The Right to Privacy

    What Is a Public Figure, Anyway?

Statutes of Limitations– usually 1-2 years; act promptly!

Sizing Up Your Legal Situation

People Who Just Don't Get It

The Middle Ground

Major-League Kooks

Special Situations

    Workplace Defamation

    Lawsuits and Criminal Charges

    Internet Libel – covers email, chat, IM, ICQ, discussion, and web sites

    Libel By the Mainstream Press

    Blackmail

    Small Town Slander

    Sociopaths

    Privilege ("absolute" or "qualified")

    Courtroom Slander by Witnesses

Taking the Right Attitude

Before You Call a Lawyer

Getting the Facts

Private Investigators

Doing It Yourself

    Keeping A Log

Nailing Down Your Legal Situation

Learning Your State's Laws

    Researching Defamation Laws Yourself

    Precedents

    A Warning About Precedents

How To Research Jury Verdicts Without Spending a Fortune

    Do It Yourself In a Legal Library

    Telephone Lawyers

    Paralegals

    Jury Verdict Research

Actually Hiring a Lawyer

Finding a Slander Lawyer

Start With the Cheapest Solutions

    Cease and Desist letters – example, plus how to write and send them

    Discovery

Things You Should NOT Do

Backlash and Common Sense

Last Resorts

Resources

Jury Verdict Research Using The Internet

    Jury Verdict Companies

    Other Information About Research Jury Verdicts on the Internet

    Using Search Engines to Find Jury Verdicts

    Jury Verdict Data from St. Louis, Missouri, and surrounding counties

    Analysis of Jury Verdicts - Which Cases Win Damages, and Which Don't

Previous Employer Research Companies

Books

Appendix

Hot Button Words ("innocent" words that courts have found to be defamatory)

Glossary

Up to Ordering Information