Attorney Intake Form: Defamation or Slander
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated June 20, 2016
If someone is painting you in a bad light in print or otherwise, you may have been defamed or slandered. These legal claims depend on specific facts to establish liability. This intake form can help you and your attorney determine whether the offending party has intruded on your legal rights. Keep in mind, though, that everyone has a free speech right, and that can extend to saying or publishing certain things, even if they are negative.
| Name: Address: Home Telephone(s): |
____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ________________________ ________________________ |
| Employer's Name: Employer's Address: Work Telephone(s): |
____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________ ________________________ ________________________ |
| May we contact you at work? | Yes _______ No _______ |
Why do you need legal advice about defamation? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Section I: If You Think You Have Been Defamed, please answer the following questions. Did the defamatory statement consist of specific words that were spoken or written? Yes _______ No _______
Please provide a brief description of circumstances of the defamatory or slanderous statement and what was said or published. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Did the defamatory or slanderous statement consist of some unspoken expression or act that implied something untrue or unsavory about you? Yes _______ No _______ Please explain the circumstances and describe the defamatory or slanderous act. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ How long ago did the defamation or slander occur?
If you know the precise date, please write it here: _________________________________ Did the statement suggest any of the following? Check all that apply. That you are
Did the statement suggest that you Where was the defamatory statement made?
How did you find out about the statement? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Who heard or read or saw the defamatory statement? Please be specific. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Was the defamatory statement directed toward your business? Yes _______ No _______ Do you think that the defamatory statement could have had a negative impact on your business? Yes _______ No _______ |
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Section II: If you are being sued, please answer the following questions. What was going on when the alleged defamatory statement was made? What were the circumstances? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________
How long ago did the defamation occur?
If you know the precise date, please write it here: _________________________________ Who is the plaintiff and what does he or she do? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Is the plaintiff a public official? Yes _______ No _______ Is the plaintiff somebody well-known? Yes _______ No _______ Where did the alleged defamatory statement take place? (Consult the list in Section I.).) __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Who else heard you make the alleged statement? Who read it? Who saw it? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Was the statement true? Yes _______ No _______ If it was, please explain why you think it was true. __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Where did you get the information that formed the basis for the alleged defamatory statement? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Did you confirm the information with third person? Yes _______ No _______ Did you try to keep the information confidential if it was, in fact, given to you in confidence? Yes _______ No _______
Does your liability insurance cover defamation? Yes _______ No/Not Sure _______ No matter how you answer this question, have the policy, along with any amendments or riders to it, with you to the first meeting with your attorney. |
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Next Steps
Contact a qualified personal injury attorney to make sure your rights are protected.