Defamation cases can be serious, and large monetary settlements are often reached if they are taken to court. In general, defamation laws are designed to protect people from unfair and unwarranted verbal and written attacks. In short, defamation is anything which harms a person or other body’s reputation without due cause.
And yes, defamation cases are sometimes a matter for employment lawyers, depending on the circumstances surrounding them. In many cases, defamation involving employers and employees can be messy, especially if working relationships have broken down.
What Constitutes Defamation?
To put it simply, defamation cases involve one person or party seeking damages for loss of reputation. In general, defamation is linked to someone distributing material making untrue claims about the person or business in question. It comes in many forms, including:
- Social media posts, blogs, and other digital content.
- Newspaper or magazine articles attacking another party without due cause.
- Photos, music, and other artistic or creative material.
- Emails, regardless who they were sent to or meant for.
- Broadcast or spoken words, including radio shows and podcasts.
In serious cases, defamation can seriously harm an individual or business’s future prospects, leading to lost income and potentially serious mental illness. Luckily, defamation laws in Australia are tough, allowing those who are affected to seek compensation from the offender.
What Should I Do if I Want to Make a Defamation Claim?
If you feel that you’ve been negatively affected by defamatory comments or other content, you should speak to your local law firm. If this defamation has occurred in the workplace, either between two employees or between employee and employer, you might need to consult an employment lawyer to confirm your employee’s or employer’s rights.
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