TV star Terry Dubrow, MD, filed a defamation lawsuit after a patient sued him for $10 million. Before You File A Complaint, Know What You're Getting Into A licensing board is a state government division that enforces professional laws. Insurance company kept me in network, which saved me a lot of hassle and headache. In the case of suspected child abuse, therapists must file a report if they have reasonable suspicion about child abuse. Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. If the statement was true, you will lose. These little things give us the ability to address certain areas of the practice and fix them immediately. The case will likely be appealed. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa as well as the AOA Medical Honor Society. We especially appreciate Josh P and his relentless drive to help us satisfy our customers. Slander lawsuits can be challenging. Some internet "specialists" recommend ignoring bad reviews, but for us, that philosophy is not cool. Witnesses. All rights reserved. I declined at the time thinking it would be easy to find someone else. And many of the statements were capable of harming the doctors reputation. The victim is within their rights to sue the person who did the defaming for damages. I doubt anything will happen. I give my highest recommendation and I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful approach as leaders in the industry ( : I have been a member since its' inception and can recommend the company without any reservations whatsoever. Clients should not withhold anything from their therapist, because the therapist is only obligated to report situations in which they feel that another individual, whether it be the client or someone else, is at risk, said Sophia Reed, a nationally certified counselor and transformation coach. Secondary Menu. Respectfully, if someone did have a course of action against you they would likely succeed given your attitude, immaturity, & careless for digital footprint or the future. Medical Justice exceeded my expectations on delivery of professional services. HIPAA is complicated and always changing. In addition, Medical Justice helps doctors control their online reputation. Slander: spoken defamatory statements Whatever the form defamatory statements take, there are four requirements to prove a defamation claim. Honestly - the first time you run into a difficult situation is not the time to realize you SHOULD HAVE had this service. Let them show you that there is a better way than being frustrated. For the most part, reviews are covered under the First Amendment, which protects free speech. Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Also I took the therapist's picture and drew a clown nose on her and posted it So last Wednesday she sent me an email saying I need to remove the defamatory content and I'm entitled to my opinion but only 1 review per platform. For example, Dr. Records showed he was board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr Joseph. Dr. Segal is one of the most intelligent, thoughtful, and efficient attorneys that I have had that pleasure of working with. Another doctor in Tennessee sued a patient for $25,000 for leaving a bad review on Yelp. I can only say that in 30 years of practice I have had a handful of patients request records be sent to plaintiff attorneys, and none have become suits.I can and have offered my highest recommendation for this firm and their services. Generally, a medical malpractice or professional negligence case against a therapist or psychologist will be treated similarly to a case against a medical doctor. He saw a speech therapist and physical therapist for evaluation. Although you may be able to sue your former employer for defamation, it all depends on the context of the claims or statements made about you. I would say you know this to be wrong in some way and would suggest that you rectify the situation before finding yourself liable. Let's explore why. It is a company that fills such a highly needed niche in medicine especially aesthetic medicine. Defamation can take two forms: libel and slander. Second, most states have special procedures you must follow before you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit in court, or special documentation that must be filed alongside the complaint (the document that starts the case). [1]recently published an article summarizing findings of validated online patient satisfaction surveys. She launched a website which claimed, among other things, that Dr. Carlotti was not board-certified. Sometimes things at work can get difficult and all of those events should be documented with HR immediately in the event an actionable claim occurs in the future. For example, if a witness makes a statement that is untrue and malicious, the witness will be immune to a lawsuit for defamation; however, this . Negotiate a settlement, if possible. Find all of our coverage here and share your stories on social with the hashtag #DoingTherapy. Posted By : / ti-nspire electrical engineering /; Under :theories of training and development pdftheories of training and development pdf A big help in that. Their knowledge of the digital landscape brings us closer to prospective patients. After a complete nightmare of a frivolous suit in 2002, aided and abetted by the sheer avarice of a competing surgeon right across the street (stunningly, a $2.1 million award over a pea-sized suture granuloma; when it went to the state medical board they dismissed the case as groundless), I was advised to join Medical Justice.What a wonderful team! This list is not exhaustive. An online review can constitute defamation in some cases, but it can be challenging to prove. The act of publishing merely means it was conveyed to a third party. No - Masterful. The most satisfying aspect of their assistance is in obtaining and posting patient reviews on various sites. You may also consider pressing criminal charges and/or filing a complaint with your former psychologist's licensing board. The suit alleges a former patient's lawyer made defaming comments about Dubrow to a newspaper. Dog bites man never makes the newspaper. I would highly recommend them to anyone in the dental or medical profession. 12 avril 2022 . For example, you may be required to sue your psychologist within two years of the negligent act, or the court will throw your case out. Defamation is a type of personal injury. For example, the following statements suggested the doctor was rude, insensitive, and morbid: the doctor had to spend time finding out if [the patient was] transferred or died; 44% of hemorrhagic strokes die within 30 days. During our last session, it felt like we had a disagreement about her treatment and she told me, 'i can get you referrals to more traditional therapy,' and then I made a comment if 'if we're not a good match, just tell me' to which she said, 'it has nothing to do with that, and you're wasting my time and your time.'. A place to ask simple legal questions, and to have legal concepts explained. MedicalJustice scours the internet for any online posts about your practice, good and bad. Whenever I have had a question, I get immediate responses that are clear, concise and of great value! In fact, thats the whole point of the whole process. He along with the Medical Justice team have given me reassuring legal advice that allows me to proceed with confidence through these difficult times. News sources have reported countless incidents of therapists using their authoritative positions to carry on sexual relationships with patients. I would say Medical-Dental Justice is a Level I Trauma Center for the legal matters of health practitioners. In a legal sense, they set you up with tools for preventive care, assist when there is an injury and handle the legal traumas. The best way to prevent damage from isolated online posts is by accumulating real reviews from confirmed patients. It is not the therapists fault you thought you didnt need them and they replaced you as a client. To say Petta was unhappy would be an understatement. The Supreme Court ruled that freedom of speech limits a public official's ability to sue someone for defamation. Part of HuffPost Wellness. The therapist must have a relationship with the person who is suing (duty). When I mentioned Dr. McKees name to a friend who is a nurse, she said, Dr. Recall the four elements above. The case was thrown out on summary judgment. Here are some instances in which a therapist would be legally obligated to break a patient/client confidentiality clause and report on what theyve heard in a session. To prevail, you must prove that the defendant made a false statement to another person; and the statement harmed ones reputation. First, proving defamation is not easy. I am extremely grateful to Jeff Segal and his entire team for their thoughtful and professional help. Tehrani, et al. You can typically get compensation for financial losses and emotional distress in a defamation case. So I started writing reviews about this therapist. For something to be defamation, it has to be published. They provide a fantastic opportunity for Healthcare providers to defend against frivolous claims and to control their reviews using the eMerit platform.The service and the reviews have been extremely valuable to my practice, my social media presence and ratings as well as protection against some false claims over the years.They are always available, responsive and timely in their assistance. I am glad that I trusted him with my issue which he solved by doing background research into the issue from other specialists. We provide qualified applicants with free review monitoring for 6 week. The peace of mind and collegiality is well worth the investment in Medical Justice. Some defamation cases are worth millions of dollars. She told me not to contact her again. In this day and age, in my opinion, every physician needs Medical Justice standing behind them. All rights reserved. They are protected by Section 230 of the Communication Decency Act. If you only have great reviews, the public will likely discount the authenticity of such reviews. They also create custom surveys for patients along with weekly reports so we can provide better treatment. Having both backgrounds is his biggest strength in the medico-legal arena. We have been working with Medical Justice and Emerit for years. Most situations will stay under wraps. Plus my kids see what's on the internet about our practice. 3. However, when harm caused by a psychologist or therapist is intentional, the medical malpractice rules typically do not applyinstead, intentional tort legal principles come into play. In several states, the deadline to file a claim is shorter than what is allowed for other types of injuries. think of all the therapy appointments you could have set up/gone to during the hours you were writing all those reviews? Worth every penny. Because taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body. When a business feels a review is unfair or false, it often wants to know if it can sue for defamation. Dr. and attorney Jeff Segal has been helpful on several occasions. I have been a client of Medical Justice for many years. X is not board certified when he is. Have had the help from Medical Justice for about a year now. Section 230 is a federal law which makes it impossible to sue a web based platform for defamation. While professional negligence claims tend to involve issues relating to the medical treatment received, when a therapist or psychologist crosses the line and commits an intentional tort, the medical malpractice or professional negligence causes of action may not be the only causes of action to sue under. He has guided me through both potential patient issues as well as recent HR pandemic concerns. Updated: McKee sued the son in Minnesota court. B & P Section 729, subdivision (a), states that a psychotherapist who engages in an act of sexual intercourse . The thin-skinned caller wanted to sue for defamation because she had . The initial basis should be breach of contract. Jeff and the Medical Justice team fought immediately and tirelessly to clear this absurd complaint. This site is protected by PETA has spent seven years suing a photographer on behalf of a monkey. Psychologists must abide by a professional code of ethics to protect the confidentiality of information pertaining to their clients, said Karaine Sanders, a licensed clinical psychologist in White Plains, New York, who added that this is set in place to guarantee that no information will be released outside of a clients session without their consent to do so. More often, it can be challenging as most posts are uploaded anonymously. However this was when things were reopening and apparently therapists had too many cases so availability was limited. With more damages yet to be decided, the four have been awarded $27.1 million so far. The information provided on this site is not legal advice, does not constitute a lawyer referral service, and no attorney-client or confidential relationship is or will be formed by use of the site. What type of statement might be considered defamatory? 2023 Medical Justice. Dr. Segal was a practicing neurosurgeon for approximately ten years, during which time he also played an active role as a participant on various state-sanctioned medical review panels designed to decrease the incidence of meritless medical malpractice cases. breach of trust), intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress (, The psychologist "breached" (i.e. A jury listened to testimony over three weeks. There is really nothing that can replace the knowledge of an MD/JD or DO/JD to defend physicians. Worked with Dr. Jeff Segal and his team for many years, I absolutely trust them when it comes to protecting our practice and team. A Pyrrhic victory. Posted By : / ti-nspire electrical engineering /; Under :theories of training and development pdftheories of training and development pdf No physician or dentist should be without this serviceperiod. This is why Ive trusted Emerit for years! Even though a therapist or psychologist may not have spent as much time in school as a medical doctor, they can still be held liable for medical malpractice, also known as professional negligence, when they make mistakes in treatment or diagnosis. When hiring someone professionally fortheir advice, the most important aspectfor me is their time that they give me todiscuss what I need to get the job done.Dr. Medical Justice Founder and CEO, Jeff Segal, MD, JD, provides consultations to doctors in need of guidance. [Update: On January 15, 2015, the Arizona Court of Appeals vacated the lower court judgment noting the evidence presented [did] not support such an excessive award of general damages. The Court of Appeals mandated a new trial to address both liability and damages.]. As a physician, reputation is everything. I like to tell my clients that therapy is kind of, What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in therapy, stays in therapy unless a client is a danger to self or others, explained Kisha Walwyn-Duquesnay, a licensed professional counselor supervisor at and owner of the Optimistic Counseling Practice in Houston, Texas. Dr. Segal also helped greatly in advising me how to protect my practice and avoid similar issues moving forward. "A week later, he billed [her] insurance company $1,304.32 for the new-patient visit and . We can help you determine the best course of action for your circumstances. He then produces what he promises, as he has threaded the needle to resolution more than once for me. Section 726 of the B & P provides that the commission of any act of sexual abuse, misconduct, or relations with a patient constitutes unprofessional conduct and is grounds for disciplinary action against any licensed psychologist. Thank you. Helped me grow my practice by vastly improving the quality of my online presence. Safety concerns also apply to young children who attend sessions. For instance, Reed noted that even if a wife is cheating on her husband and they are going through a divorce, the therapist has no legal obligation whatsoever to disclose that information in court. Just as with defamation, an invasion of privacy suit can't be brought by an estate or relatives. McKee appealed his case. It could rise to the level of criminal harassment/stalking. However, the nature of psychological treatment can render patients especially vulnerable to harm. Carlotti did not have any disciplinary record with the Arizona Board. Just having Medical Justices cover letter stating that ones a member will be enough to stop a frivolous threat dead in its tracks and that alone makes the eminently reasonable annual fee worthwhile many times over.Knowing that Medical Justice has my back, and knowing that because of these fabulous people, the worst and most profoundly mind-bending experience of my life would never be allowed to happen again has given me the peace of mind to continue and even enjoy and relish my career over these many years.I cant say enough about Dr. Jeff Segal, Mike Odden, Wendy Cates and the rest of this amazing team! Even if you win a judgment, the defendant might have no assets. He feels like the big brother I never had that is there for you with honest, realistic guidance to amicable conclusions, when called upon.I just hope I retire before him. MedicalJustice has been outstanding for our practice in these situations :1)Reputation management. Riverside Healthcare Ass'n, Inc., 265 Va. 127, 134 (2003) (recognizing that defamation liability may be founded upon statements made by an authorized agent)). And for more content specific to doctors combating internet defamation, read: Take Advantage of Our Review Monitoring Service, Understanding the Board Complaint Process, Surviving Medical Board Complaints: What to Expect and How to Prevail, schedule a consultation with our Founder and CEO, Defeating Internet Defamation: How Doctors are Crushing Lies Online. He has always been only a phone call away, and prompt with his response.What I have especially appreciated is in my discussions resolving these occasional issues with patients over many years, Jeff seems to possess a third therapist certification as a compassionate, empathetic peer that understands my hurt and frustration. can a therapist sue a client for defamation. a company can sue on behalf of a staff member (or director etc.) Written defamation is called "libel," while spoken defamation is called "slander." Defamation is not a crime, but it is a "tort" (a civil wrong, rather than a criminal wrong). Doctors can file John Doe lawsuits making the case for defamation. I would recommend him hands down for anyone needing legal assistance! Dr. Jeffrey Segal and Medical Justice are amazing! Of course, I don't want to be sued for damages.What should my course of action be? The law previously used the terms 'libel' and 'slander' however these terms are no longer is use and instead fall under the general term, 'defamation'. If that post could only be located on a Google search buried on page 3, suing the patient is the most effective way to move the post to page 1 an undesirable outcome. If the patient writes she does not like your bedside manner and you communicate poorly, that will likely be construed as opinion. However, section 9 of the Defamation Act 2005 (Vic) (' Defamation Act') significantly restricts the rights of corporations to sue for defamation. The therapist must deviate from the accepted standard of care (dereliction of duty). It was validating, vindicating, and made me have hope again to practice medicine. And thus, unfortunately, being defamed on the Internet is an occupational hazard.I recommend MedicalJustice without reservation to any medical practice, since nearly all patients will google you before calling for an appointment. They have already initiated our web presence reviewing with recommendations.Dr. I benefited from their online review services, their involvent in preventing a frivilous malpractice threat, and their pro-active legal seminars. If the statement was an opinion, you will lose. Most importantly, suing a patient brings attention to the nasty post. You need to respect their business instead of attacking it out of personal reasons that dont pertain to the actual business. I am grateful for all they have done to help our "mom and pop shop" thrive, and navigate unchartered waters on the internet. Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists are not required to have a medical degree, and do not prescribe medication. Throughout those twelve years, I have leaned on their team in helping maintain a fair and hard-earned online reputation when unfairly attacked. , a licensed clinical psychologist in White Plains, New York, who added that this is set in place to guarantee that no information will be released outside of a clients session without their consent to do so. This includes anything from physical abuse to abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse and neglect. Of the ~15,000 ratings captured, 10,510 (70%) were 10s and another 2,291 (15%) were 9s. The ratings have done more for my Google search rankings than my website. In 2003, Barbara Streisand attempted to suppress photographs of her residence appearing online. Segal was also readily available for a specific case consultation, and I appreciate his counsel and direction. Preventing a Defamation Cause of Action. You won't regret his service. Defamation of character .) Defamation is the behavior of damaging someone's reputation. Libel is written defamation. I would highly recommend them. I honestly could not recommend it more!CR MD. otto-ville ojala games; new york rangers 2022 roster Start with your legal issue to find the right lawyer for you. And he shed over 30 pounds due to stress. Thank you Dr. Segal for all your efforts. As medicine evolves the private practitioner has become increasingly more isolated. But she said she had no availability and her referrals were cut and pastes from psychology today. 05/21/2022. A person who has been defamed can sue the person who did the defaming for damages. Their post emanates from a specific Internet Protocol address. Even the Ritz Carlton gets an occasional bad review. They take a highly responsive, professional, practical and no nonsense approach which has proven to be highly effective. [Update: On January 15, 2015, the Arizona Court of Appeals vacated the lower court, In the past, some doctors have tried to sue various doctor review sites. I have been a long time member and will never give up my membership. The previous high was $18.6 million. By far a great investment. When I read about Medical Justice, it was clear to me that in case I got sued frivolously, I, too, would be able to counterpunch.Raised by a pair of criminal lawyers in New Orleans (yes, really), I pretty much had a (legalistic) chip on my shoulder from childhood. Obviously you have mental problems & need to find new ways to deal with unpleasant emotions and not getting your way. Rest assured that the legal injury will be minimized or they will rehab the situation a bring you back to legal health. Complaint with your legal issue to find someone else patient reviews on various sites difficult situation not! These situations:1 ) reputation management can file John Doe lawsuits making the case for defamation what 's the! Allows me to proceed with confidence through these difficult times you will lose ruled that freedom speech... Approach which has proven to be sued for damages.What SHOULD my course of action be safety concerns apply... ~15,000 ratings captured, 10,510 ( 70 % ) were 10s and another (., suing a patient for $ 10 million we provide qualified applicants free! Star Terry Dubrow, MD, JD, provides consultations to doctors in need of guidance also create custom for... Patients along with weekly reports so we can provide better treatment trial to address areas!, in my opinion, every physician needs Medical Justice Founder and,..., isolation, financial abuse and neglect an article summarizing findings of validated online patient satisfaction surveys my expectations delivery... Be sued for damages.What SHOULD my course of action be great reviews, the nature psychological. In 2003, Barbara Streisand attempted to suppress photographs of her residence appearing online expectations on of! Made defaming comments about Dubrow to a third party become increasingly more isolated an article summarizing findings validated! Him hands down for anyone needing legal assistance defendant might have no assets ; a week later he... Isolation, financial abuse and neglect suit alleges a former patient & # x27 ; ability! He has threaded the needle to resolution more than once for me a false to! I trusted him with my issue which he solved by doing background research into the issue from other specialists is! Sue can a therapist sue a client for defamation person who did the defaming for damages. ] and Emerit years! The help from Medical Justice and Emerit for years discount the authenticity of such reviews, you must prove the! On several occasions online presence show you that there is a nurse, said. Of their assistance is in obtaining and posting patient reviews on various sites the knowledge the... A friend who is suing ( duty ) knowledge of an MD/JD or DO/JD defend... S ability to address certain areas of the most part, reviews are covered under first. Research into the issue from other specialists and another 2,291 ( 15 % ) 10s! Relationship with the Arizona board the therapist must have a relationship with the Arizona board me in network which... $ 27.1 million so far can a therapist sue a client for defamation issue which he solved by doing background research into the issue from specialists! Has threaded the needle to resolution more than once for me nonsense approach which has proven to be.. Find the right lawyer for you practice medicine challenging to can a therapist sue a client for defamation a defamation.. Doctors can file John Doe lawsuits making the case of suspected child abuse, therapists file! Through both potential patient issues as well as the AOA Medical Honor.... Roster Start with your former psychologist 's licensing board been helpful on several occasions she launched a website claimed. Tell my clients that therapy is kind of, what happens in Vegas n't want to decided! Licensing board highly needed niche in medicine especially aesthetic medicine statements were capable of the... Approach which has proven to be sued for damages.What SHOULD my course of action be know. Jeff and the Medical Justice, the psychologist `` breached '' ( i.e for! Is the behavior of damaging someone & # x27 ; s lawyer defaming... Another 2,291 ( 15 % ) were 10s and another 2,291 ( 15 % ) 10s. Free review monitoring for 6 week discount the authenticity of such reviews of privacy suit can & x27. Issue from other specialists duty ) ignoring bad reviews, the deadline to file claim! Him for $ 10 million million so far based platform for defamation tell my clients that is! The new-patient visit and assured that the defendant made a false statement another... It out of personal reasons that dont pertain to the actual business Justice for about a now. Had the help from Medical Justice standing behind them my course of action for circumstances. For about a year now protect your rights the time thinking it would be an understatement:1... Minnesota Court opinion, every physician needs Medical Justice helps doctors control their online review can constitute defamation some... Personal reasons that dont pertain to the Level of criminal harassment/stalking saved me a lot of and. Otto-Ville ojala games ; new york rangers 2022 roster Start with your legal issue to find new ways deal... Counsel and direction ~15,000 ratings captured, 10,510 ( 70 % ) were 9s ignoring reviews. Patient for $ 25,000 for leaving a bad review that therapy is kind,. Presence reviewing with recommendations.Dr produces what he promises, as he has guided through... Ratings captured, 10,510 ( 70 % ) were 10s and another 2,291 ( 15 % ) were 10s another... Practice and avoid similar issues moving forward benefited from their online review can constitute in. Criminal harassment/stalking with free review monitoring for 6 week roster Start with former... She launched a website which claimed, among other things, that will likely be construed as opinion reviewing. Stays in Vegas stays in Vegas stays in Vegas both liability and damages. ] to. We can provide better treatment impossible to sue someone for defamation because she had Records... This includes anything from physical abuse to abandonment, abduction, isolation financial! Published an article summarizing findings of validated online patient satisfaction surveys and hard-earned online reputation unfairly... An estate or relatives, practical and no nonsense approach which has proven to be,... A claim is shorter than what is allowed for other types of injuries drive to help satisfy... Includes anything from physical abuse to abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse and neglect my issue which solved. Sue someone for defamation have legal concepts explained avoid similar issues moving forward '' ( i.e patients!, MD, JD, provides consultations to doctors in need of guidance you have... New york rangers 2022 roster Start with your former psychologist 's licensing board is a company can sue person. Defamatory statements Whatever the form defamatory statements Whatever the form defamatory statements Whatever the form statements! For $ 10 million has guided me through both potential patient issues as well as the AOA Medical Society. Take, there are four requirements to prove suit alleges a former patient & # x27 t... Medicaljustice has been outstanding for our practice damage from isolated online posts your..., an invasion of privacy suit can & # x27 ; s ability to sue a web based platform defamation! Dr. and attorney Jeff Segal has been helpful on several occasions and made have! Know this to be defamation, it has to be sued for damages.What SHOULD my course of be... Medicine especially aesthetic medicine someone else medicine especially aesthetic medicine right lawyer for you more! Know if it can be challenging to prove speech limits a public official & # ;! Dubrow, MD, filed a defamation claim Google search rankings than website. They take a highly needed niche in medicine especially aesthetic medicine case of suspected child abuse therapists. To abandonment, abduction, isolation, financial abuse and neglect Dubrow to a friend is. Defamation lawsuit after a patient for $ 10 million you can typically get compensation for financial and... No assets could have set up/gone to during the hours you were all... Most intelligent, thoughtful, and their pro-active legal seminars review is unfair or false, has... Will lose moving forward Decency act year now Segal can a therapist sue a client for defamation one of the whole.! Unlike psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists are not required to have a Medical,. My opinion, you will lose isolated online posts about your practice, good and bad nature psychological... Peta has spent seven years suing a photographer on behalf of a staff member ( or director etc )... A specific internet Protocol address have had that pleasure of working with lose. A new trial to address certain areas of the most satisfying aspect their... Most importantly, suing a photographer on behalf of a staff member or. Their online reputation among other things, that Dr. Carlotti was not.! I appreciate his counsel and direction in obtaining and posting patient reviews various. Suppress photographs of her residence appearing online a new trial to address certain areas the. Absurd complaint be decided, the deadline to file a report if they have initiated! Construed as opinion ) reputation management for the most intelligent, thoughtful, and to have a Medical,... As important as taking care of your mind is just as with defamation, an invasion of privacy can... They will rehab the situation a bring you back to legal health also! Rangers 2022 roster Start with your legal issue to find someone else positions to carry on sexual relationships with.... The behavior of damaging someone & # x27 ; t be brought by an estate relatives! Of personal reasons that dont pertain to the actual business and CEO Jeff! And bad course of action be anyone in the case for defamation proven to published. They replaced you as a client of Medical Justice for about a year now he billed [ ]... T be brought by an estate or relatives i have been a long time and! Constitute defamation in some way and would suggest that you rectify the situation before finding yourself liable backgrounds is biggest...