Re: The RTC commissioners call him lying Brian
Author: M. Harris
Date: 12-20-2016 - 13:31
Peter Holtzer, if that's really your name, you just made a statement that "the train" (presumably the Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay RR) is killing people. That implies a direct connection between the operation of the SC&MB and human beings. That's a pretty serious charge, and one you better be able to substantiate with factual information. I can see a few lawyers coming after you to have a chat about libel and slander.
Collectively known as defamation, libel and slander are civil wrongs that harm reputation; decrease respect, regard, or confidence; or induce disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity (SC&MB). The injury to a party's good name or reputation is affected through written or spoken words or visual images. The laws governing these situations are identical.
To recover in a libel or slander suit, the plaintiff must show evidence of four elements: that the defendant conveyed a defamatory message (check); that the material was published, meaning that it was conveyed to someone other than the plaintiff (check); that the plaintiff could be identified as the person referred to in the defamatory material (check); and that the plaintiff suffered some injury to his or her reputation as a result of the communication (pending).
And, no, I'm not a lawyer. But feel free to check with one and see if I'm "on the right track".