Can I be sued for libel for informing a mother that her daughter was having an affair with my husband?
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Can I be sued for libel for informing a mother that her daughter was having an affair with my husband?
I discovered sexually explicit emails between my husband and a young woman. They were only a handful of older emails. I confronted my husband who said the relationship ended in the early part of last yearn. and that the affair was never physically consummated. However, I do not know whether he is telling the truth or not because the emails contained plans to meet up. I contacted the young woman’s mother via email to inform her and to seek assistance in ending the relationship should it 9still continue. The mom asked for my email proof, which I supplied. Daughter then emailed me to threat legal actio
Asked on June 1, 2012 under Personal Injury, New Mexico
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You don't have to worry about a lawsuit because truth is an absolute defense to defamation.
Defamation is a false statement made with knowledge of its falsity communicated to a third person who recognizes the defamatory content and the statement is injurious to one's reputation.
Libel is written defamation. Slander is spoken defamation.
Again, since your statements about the affair were true, the daughter has no valid claim for defamation.
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