How to prosecute Libel and Slander in the UKWritten by Jefferson Highway, General Counsel
Continued from page 1
So what can you do if you think you have been slandered or libeled? There are several possible course of action beyond ignoring it and not drawing attention. First, you could demand an apology. If statement really is defamatory, a lawyer's letter will usually do trick. The second response might be to approach professional body that regulates channel thru which defamation occurred (such as Press Complaints Commission if statement came via UK press). Thirdly, you could use section 2 of Defamation Act 1996 with assistance of a lawyer to get them to stop. Fourthly, an injunction can be applied for via courts. You final recourse, is to sue - course most people are aware of. What they may NOT be aware of is how expensive this can get. There is no Aid or public funding for such cases, so unless your pockets are very deep, this must be your last resort, particularly as if you lose, you could end up paying other side's costs too!If it does go to court, accused has several possible defenses above and beyond standard defense of 'the statement is true'. They could argue that they never made statement, or that statement did no damage, or wasn't even defamatory. The bottom line is, before you get upset and ring a lawyer, think hard on subject!
Jeff writes article about the law for Joe Public, and contributes articles to www.lawyersbench.com a free site full of top legal advice and tips.
| | Database Hacks - Are Banks Required To Notify You?Written by Richard A. Chapo
Continued from page 1
There are two serious loopholes in regulations. First, a financial institution that discovers a database breach must only notify account holders if it is "reasonably possible" that personal details will be misused. Second, regulations only apply to personal data, not business or commercial accounts. While these new regulations are a positive step, one could drive a truck through two loopholes. Determining whether it is “reasonably possible” that your information will be misused is a vague standard that many financial institutions will use to withhold information. Put bluntly, notification regulations are gutless. The best method for keeping an eye on database breaches is to look for stories in news. Under California law, companies are required to give notice to California residents when breaches occur. If you see a story about your bank giving notice of a hack to California residents, your personal information may have also been exposed. Hackers do not restrict their attacks to California residents.
Richard Chapo is an attorney with http://www.sandiegobusinesslawfirm.com - a law firm providing legal advice to California businesses. This article is for general education purposes and does not address every facet of the subject matter. Nothing in this article creates an attorney-client relationship.
|
