Just a quick question,

Is it possible to take legal action against someone on Facebook for posting untruths?

E.G. Saying someone is committing money/business fraud when they are not?

Thanks

Given they went after people for posting about Lord Whassname on Twitter, I would have thought so, yes.

Lord McAlpine seems to think so

I'd have thought it was straightforward libel - especially so if the poster is in this country

Both people are in this country. The posts involve pic's of text messages that are put up then given an untrue 'title' followed by various remarks from various people slatting an individual (who's not on facebook) based on the untrue 'title' of the pics

All sounds very juvenile to me.

If it's causing any form of harm to the 'victim' then surely legal action should be a viable option.

Jimbob. It is VERY juvenile.

But it's got to the point where it's
A. Getting boring
B. Getting personal
C. Effecting the whole family and
D. Nothing but lie's now (including money fraud and laundering)

Need to know if a strong letter may put an end to it once and for all

I have often found that even when there is no real legal force behind it, with a strongly worded letter from a reputable legal advisor a certain type of person will *always* take heed.

yes you can, defamation applies to fb too!

If it's in writing then it's easy to prove. What's not so easy to prove is a claim that the comments have caused the victim to suffer a loss (which you must do if you intend to sue for damages).

I'd do as others suggest and get someone with a legal title on their letterhead to scare them off.

Find the person and knock him out. Job done, and much more satisfying than any legal battle.

It may be worth getting screen shots of the posts so if they delete them/ change them you have a record.

Only valid if they are made in the presence of a bailiff.

What, the screenshots?

Belgian law I suspect.

Much of the rights allowing persons to take legal redress for an instance such as this are in many ways European law Peter. It is all part of the ever so popular Human Rights Act

Has the person who feels they are being defamed complained to Facebook - the broadcaster? Broadcasters are obligated to remove offending material as soon as they are notified of its existence. If they do not they themselves may be considered party to any claim.

I was thinking of the witnessed recording by a bailiff Bob, rather than the law itself.

I think that a Belgian bailiff is probably more like a French Huissier de Justice or a British Commisioner of oaths.

Would love to but I don't hit woman

I have screen shots saved, as this person has blocked me and the rest of my family the screenshots have come from a mate of mine who is still freinds with this other party.

Guess an email to FB with the screenshots attached is a start????

English law allows actions for libel to be brought in the High Court for any published statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual (or individuals) in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them.
“ A is liable for saying anything to C about B which would be apt to make the average citizen think worse of the latter. ”

A statement can include an implication; for instance, a photograph of a particular politician accompanying a headline reading "Corrupt Politicians" could be held as an allegation that that politician was personally corrupt. Once it is shown that a statement was published, and that it has a defamatory meaning, that statement is presumed to be false unless the defendant is able to raise a defence to his defamatory act.

The 2006 case of Keith-Smith v Williams confirmed that discussions on the Internet were public enough for libel to take place.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_defamation_law

Typo corrected.

Well spotted ;-) Phew thanks