Comments on: You, Sued

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:08:10 +0000

Great suggestion Lori. I'll give them a look too! Enjoy your trip!

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:25:05 +0000

Kathy, I'm still shaking my head over some of the news reports I saw. How can you sue someone if they say something factual about you or your business? Let's put it this way - anyone can sue for anything. The real trick is proving your point and winning. I think these would mostly be nuisance lawsuits. In fact, I know of a nuisance suit going on right now that it utterly ridiculous. If I could mention it, I would. In email, definitely. :)

Georganna, how DARE you not mention him more! LOL That's just the weirdest thing.

Jenn, check with Zurich, as well. I had a quote from them once that was really reasonable.

Very true, Stacey! In fact, I've read similar clauses in my contracts and thought I was walking a tightrope a few times.

By: StaceyW

StaceyW — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:56:13 +0000

I do try to be careful whether I'm blogging or writing for a publication. At least one of my contracts for a publication I write for regularly includes an indemnity clause, so I try to keep that in the back of my mind. We writers are putting ourselves out there in more ways than one!

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:01:40 +0000

Great timing on this one Lori. I was actually just in my local State Farm office last week changing my renter's insurance and car insurance policies over to them. I'd seen some shady looking liability and errors & omissions insurance policies in the past, and saw nothing of the sort on State Farm's website. So I asked my agent about it. Turns out they do offer protection, and they're putting together the details and mailing it over (because it's so rarely requested they actually had to go digging for it — and that's a shame). I'd been thinking about this for quite some time. But given my reputation as a somewhat controversial blogger at times, and the fact that I'm jumping back into the niche where I've been most known in that way, it seemed like a good time to consider some extra protection. I know enough about media law issues from my old PR days to be careful about verifying facts and wording things appropriately. But sadly we live in a sue-happy society where people will throw money at you to try to shut you up, assuming you can't defend yourself. I would anyway, as a matter of principle, because that's simply my nature. But it sure would make me feel better about it knowing that if something does go wrong I'm covered. Basic point is this — even if you don't think your insurance company offers this protection, ask them. It seems pretty uncommon, so it's not heavily advertised by some of the bigger companies, but apparently they do issue the policies.

By: Georganna Hancock M.S.

Georganna Hancock M.S. — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 23:38:41 +0000

Never been sued. However, one time a state attorney who was up for re-election threatened "libel" over an article in which I mentioned him. His complaint? I didn't mention him or quote him ENOUGH!

The publisher did nothing. Nor did the S.A. I only wet my pants a little.

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:22:33 +0000

Of all your readers, I'm probably the one who should be most concerned about being sued, but I'm not ... actually not in the least. I make sure that whatever I post on my blog is the truth and that I keep all the emails to back that truth up, just in case. Libel has nothing to stand on if there's no untruth involved. Of course, someone could still claim that I'm lying and waste a lot of my time, but in all cases I'm confident I'd come out on top.

The idea of being sued over someone else's comments though? That escapes me. What about places like Writer's Weekly Whisper and Warnings or The Rip-Off Report, where others' (alleged) deadbeats are outed by a third party who has no insider knowledge of the situation? Interesting food for thought.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:04:55 +0000

Anne, I think you can state strong opinions, and should. Where I think people are getting into trouble is by stating erroneous facts and by smearing the character of those they disagree with.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:20:41 +0000

Isn't it a shame we've come to this… that I can't state a strong opinion without fear of being sued.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 20:58:18 +0000

Cathy, exactly. How many of us think "They won't see me commenting over here!"?

I'm not looking forward to meeting Anti-Paula, who I'm sure is completely different from Aunty Paula....

Wendy, that's it. Disagree all you like. Just don't besmirch the character of someone just because you don't like their idea or approach.

Becky, you're right. The same principle applies. I've disagreed with people on this blog openly, but that's where it ends. I say controversial things from time to time, but it's always stated as an opinion and never stated in a hurtful way.

By: becky @ misspriss

becky @ misspriss — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:36:32 +0000

In general, I tend to avoid making statements that may be deemed controversial. I've seen too many people attacked by followers of popular blogs, harassed, etc., so I just try to stay out of things. While that's not the example you were talking about, the same principle applies. Sometimes not saying anything at all is the better choice. For me.