Defamation - Only for the rich?

Here at Bale Boshev Lawyers we can assist you with specialised knowledge in many different areas of the law.

WHAT IS DEFAMATION?

The basic idea behind defamation law is simple. It attempts to balance your right to protect your reputation with the right of other persons to have freedom of speech.

The laws of defamation allow people to sue other people who say or publish false and malicious comments.

If you are involved in an accident you may suffer physical injury. But, if someone says or does something which injures your reputation then this is defamation. Defamation can be oral (slander), or written (libel). Slander could be comments made at a meeting or a party, while libel could be pictures or words published in a newspaper or on the television.

You might think that bringing a defamation case is only for the rich and powerful. This is not the case - with expert assistance from our team, it is important that you not allow people to run rough-shod over your reputation.

You were not born with a reputation – it is something that you acquire over time. It is precious and if your reputation is sullied, it can take a long time to get it back unless you pursue your rights.

Here at Bale Boshev Lawyers we can assist you to do that in a timely and cost effective way.


Also, you may be threatened with or sued for defamation. This can be a distressing time. Of course, with our specialised knowledge we can assist you to avoid this situation.

Any comment that brings a person into contempt, disrepute or ridicule is likely to be defamatory. In fact, nearly everyone makes defamatory statements almost every day. However, only rarely does someone use defamation law against these statements.

You need to be prompt – in 2005 the NSW Parliament changed the defamation laws and one of the changes reduced the amount of time within which you have to sue for defamation. Under the law as it currently stands you have only 12 months from the date of publication within which to bring defamation proceedings. This is why it is important that if you think someone has said or done something which brings you into disrepute, you should contact us promptly so that we can provide you with advice.