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Post Info TOPIC: Slander / Libel against a business, worth fighting? *Off Topic*


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Slander / Libel against a business, worth fighting? *Off Topic*
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All,

Let me start off by saying this is in reference to my wife's business, a Child Care in Maryland which is located in our home.

She had conflict with a customer who kept giving her a big attitude every week so she terminated their contract and issued a 2 week notice (following the signed contract to a T). The customer would still be required to pay for the last 2 weeks of care, whether they choose to come on not.

The day after termination, the father of these 2 children called the State Dept. of Maryland and the Better Business Bureau and told them a few big fat lies. These lies consisted of saying my wife curses in front of the children and that he witnessed my son strike another child in the face and my wife did nothing. We know this does not and did not happen and they are trying to get back at us since they are angry, but at this point, if we don't defend ourselves, we are afraid that our reputation will be damaged, unjustly.

Any advice or thoughts? I can poke holes through their junk story, but the father of the children has a Military background and is an Air Marshal. We are worried that his concocted story might actually pass as true given his status and the values that he is supposed to have in his position.

I posted this here for help, but also in case any one else deals with this in their own business. Thank you for any help or advice.

-- Edited by Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD on Thursday 17th of February 2011 10:37:12 AM

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I would threaten to sue these people for damages, and see what kind of proof they have to any of the allacations. Probably none.  It may just scare them enough to drop the matter.  May want to get an attorney to write the letter warning of the pending suit.
JMHO
Gary

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Hey Gary, they have already made formal complaints, so I don't know if it is possible to get out of that. I know they have no proof, since that didn't happen, so it's a he said / she said kind of thing. We are probably contacting a lawyer today because we did threaten with legal action and they must think we aren't being serious.

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Retain council and take a pro active approach to this. You should defend the truth & your wife's reputation.
People like this should not be allowed to continue their in your face mentality without being called out.

-- Edited by aaron61 on Thursday 17th of February 2011 09:08:23 PM

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Don't think that because "he has/had a military background" & is an Air Marshall, lends any weight to his lies. If he is retired from the military, which I doubt as he has small children at your wife's day care.  Don't worry about the air marshall stuff, he is nothing but a government rent a cop that flies for a living.

Retain an attorney, I know they cost $$, take them to court, file for your attorney fees, plus damages.  Get depositions from them, they lie, they go to jail. If his statements can be proved false to the state, he will lose his job, nuf said. Again, don't worry about his perceived status, it means squat, nada, zip, zilch & zero.  He is a government worker gets a paycheck.  If he was so great in the military, why didn't he stay? If he wanted to be a police officer, be a deputy sheriff, city police officer or state trooper, US border patrol , customs agent.  I could go on, but I think you can see where this is going.  He is subsidized by the airline paid to the government, so he can carry a gun.

Stand your ground, don't be bullied, get your chit together for child services turn the tables.

As others have said and advised retain counsel, be pro active, grab them by the short curlies and make them squeel for their lies.

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Wow that sucks Phil. Get a lawyer. Sorry Bro.

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If you even won the law suit you cant get blood from a stone. You will be stuck with the legal bill either way.

AC


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AC, did I miss something? How do you know this guy doesn't have money?
Should he just sit back and let people do this to him? roof cleaningemote.img?ID=8424If we don't stand up against  ass holes we would end up staring at nothing but ass holes all day every day! Don't know about you but I don't care for the smell.no

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The bottom line is that you are in business to make money.  If it is going to take vaulable time and money from your business just to prove you are right,  that is not recoverable, then you have won the battle but lost the war.  When in business you have to know when to cut your losses and start making money.

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Yes, but if his slander is taking business and money from you, that is the bottom line.

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Thanks for the replies, all. Yeah, the bottom line is that this false complaint business can seriously impact my wife's business. Now she is talking about not running the child care next year, so I am thinking, what's the point in fighting it then? These people do have money, they are just nasty people with bad intentions and no remorse for their actions. We are speaking with a lawyer in regards to what our options are, preferably just to get the complaints removed somehow, since we don't really care about making them pay us tons of money. Personally speaking, if I was researching a child care for my children and I saw bad complaints, I wouldn't go there. Knowing my thought process, I can only imagine that others would feel the same way. In that case, if she continues with this business and we don't defend ourselves, she could definitely have problems getting new customers.

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Redfisherman wrote:

Don't think that because "he has/had a military background" & is an Air Marshall, lends any weight to his lies. If he is retired from the military, which I doubt as he has small children at your wife's day care.  Don't worry about the air marshall stuff, he is nothing but a government rent a cop that flies for a living.

Retain an attorney, I know they cost $$, take them to court, file for your attorney fees, plus damages.  Get depositions from them, they lie, they go to jail. If his statements can be proved false to the state, he will lose his job, nuf said. Again, don't worry about his perceived status, it means squat, nada, zip, zilch & zero.  He is a government worker gets a paycheck.  If he was so great in the military, why didn't he stay? If he wanted to be a police officer, be a deputy sheriff, city police officer or state trooper, US border patrol , customs agent.  I could go on, but I think you can see where this is going.  He is subsidized by the airline paid to the government, so he can carry a gun.

Stand your ground, don't be bullied, get your chit together for child services turn the tables.

As others have said and advised retain counsel, be pro active, grab them by the short curlies and make them squeel for their lies.




+1 and a Amen.  Take no shit from anyone.  Good luck to you and the Mrs.

 



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I'm with Fred & Ted and it's not 'cause they rhyme. If you weren't out looking for trouble and you weren't doing anything wrong, stand your ground and don't take any chit from them. Liars usually leave when you confront them.

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Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC wrote:

AC, did I miss something? How do you know this guy doesn't have money?
Should he just sit back and let people do this to him? roof cleaningemote.img?ID=8424If we don't stand up against  ass holes we would end up staring at nothing but ass holes all day every day! Don't know about you but I don't care for the smell.no



Neither do I David. Ive just been involved in about 10 law suits in my lifetime and they never go well and no one ever wins. Even a win is sometimes a loss with the distraction it causes in your business and personal life as well as the bitterness that it can cause in your heart.

I have a former employee that I could sue the pants off right now that is in violation of a confidentiality agreement. Sometimes the best way to get away from the smell is to move away from it instead of step in it.

Ive won lawsuits against people who had money. Winning the suit is just the first step. Now you have to get a judgement, do an asset search, get a writ of lien, etc etc etc. Just not worth it.

Sometimes we all would just like it to be like the old west. Meet me in the street and take 12 paces. That didn't work back then either. 

I am not sure who said this but it is a quote. "The best revenge is living well" I just want to focus on positive momentum and stay on course with my business plan. Hope this perspective helps!

AC

 



-- Edited by AC Lockyer on Saturday 19th of February 2011 12:02:25 PM

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Roof Cleaning Severna Park MD wrote:

Thanks for the replies, all. Yeah, the bottom line is that this false complaint business can seriously impact my wife's business. Now she is talking about not running the child care next year, so I am thinking, what's the point in fighting it then? These people do have money, they are just nasty people with bad intentions and no remorse for their actions. We are speaking with a lawyer in regards to what our options are, preferably just to get the complaints removed somehow, since we don't really care about making them pay us tons of money. Personally speaking, if I was researching a child care for my children and I saw bad complaints, I wouldn't go there. Knowing my thought process, I can only imagine that others would feel the same way. In that case, if she continues with this business and we don't defend ourselves, she could definitely have problems getting new customers.



Best to let HRS do the interview and investigation and let them exonerate you. That is a difficult business to be in anyway. When someone attacks you like this they will make you look guilty and like a jerk no matter which direction you go. Thats the society we live in today.

What ever decision you make have peace in it.

AC

 



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Roof Cleaning Raleigh NC wrote:

AC, did I miss something? How do you know this guy doesn't have money?
Should he just sit back and let people do this to him? roof cleaningemote.img?ID=8424If we don't stand up against  ass holes we would end up staring at nothing but ass holes all day every day! Don't know about you but I don't care for the smell.no




*****Warning*****Very graphic language. Do not watch if you're offended by language. I thought this went well with Davids post :) 




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