Defamation case against Cablevision.

I am looking for a lawyer to work on my case. Defamation against Cablevision.
I have 18 years of an unblemished record and did what my boss asked me to and was fired. I have only a small amount of money to work with and want to sue Cablevision for $500,000 and willing to give a high percentage of my final winning to the lawyer. Please help.

1 answer  |  asked Feb 6, 2003 04:30 AM [EST]  |  applies to New York

Answers (1)

David M. Lira
Is It Defamation?

Simply because someone in the course of an employment dispute said something about you that you found offensive does not mean you have a viable defamation claim. In all defamation claims two questions have to be asked and answered. First, what was said? And second, who said it to whom?

With respect to who and whom, it is often difficult to successfully sue an employer for statements made within that employer's organization. Those types of statements will usually be considered qualified privileged. A privilege essentially makes certain types of action immune from a civil lawsuit. A qualified privilege creates a presumption that the action is entitled to immunity, but the presumption can be overcome under certain rather onerous conditions.

As to the what issue, not all statements are defamation. For example, even offensive opinions are generally not considered defamation.

I might be able to help you, but, at this point, I don't know whether you even have a defamation claim.

posted by David M. Lira  |  Feb 6, 2003 08:57 AM [EST]

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