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To: Ken H

Concern trolling?


129 posted on 05/04/2015 10:49:31 AM PDT by DiogenesLamp
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To: DiogenesLamp
Take it as a word to the wise. The first google hit to my query turned up the following from the expertlaw.com forum =>

___________________________________________________________

Can You Get in Legal Trouble for Calling Someone a Drug Dealer

-snip-

When you ask about trouble, do you mean could he sue you? It's possible, and as the allegation would presumably be defamation per se you would have to prove your statement was true or be held liable.

-snip-

Some state have criminal-libel statutes and Virginia is one of them.

Virginia
“Any person who knowingly and willfully states, delivers or transmits by any means whatever to any publisher, or employee of a publisher, of any newspaper, magazine, or other publication or to any owner, or employee of an owner, of any radio station, television station, news service or cable service, any false and untrue statement, knowing the same to be false or untrue, concerning any person or corporation, with intent that the same shall be published, broadcast or otherwise disseminated, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.” VA Code Ann. § 18.2-209. Speaking or publishing imputations of a woman’s want of chastity is also a Class 3 misdemeanor; if the defendant disproves malice, he will lessen the penalty he will receive if convicted, but lack of malice is not a defense to the crime. Id. at 18.2-417

If, as you say, he is a drug dealer I doubt he will be going to the police to file charges against you. And as Mr. K points out, he could sue you for libel and not go to the police. But that would be a very expensive proposition for him.

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172999

136 posted on 05/04/2015 11:02:07 AM PDT by Ken H
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To: DiogenesLamp
Take it as a word to the wise. The first google hit to my query turned up the following from the expertlaw.com forum =>

___________________________________________________________

Can You Get in Legal Trouble for Calling Someone a Drug Dealer

-snip-

When you ask about trouble, do you mean could he sue you? It's possible, and as the allegation would presumably be defamation per se you would have to prove your statement was true or be held liable.

-snip-

Some state have criminal-libel statutes and Virginia is one of them.

Virginia
“Any person who knowingly and willfully states, delivers or transmits by any means whatever to any publisher, or employee of a publisher, of any newspaper, magazine, or other publication or to any owner, or employee of an owner, of any radio station, television station, news service or cable service, any false and untrue statement, knowing the same to be false or untrue, concerning any person or corporation, with intent that the same shall be published, broadcast or otherwise disseminated, shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.” VA Code Ann. § 18.2-209. Speaking or publishing imputations of a woman’s want of chastity is also a Class 3 misdemeanor; if the defendant disproves malice, he will lessen the penalty he will receive if convicted, but lack of malice is not a defense to the crime. Id. at 18.2-417

If, as you say, he is a drug dealer I doubt he will be going to the police to file charges against you. And as Mr. K points out, he could sue you for libel and not go to the police. But that would be a very expensive proposition for him.

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172999

137 posted on 05/04/2015 11:02:08 AM PDT by Ken H
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