Defamation question

[mommato4boys]

My husband is the vice president and a coach for our local baseball park. A few weeks ago my teenage son left his cell phone in his baseball bag during a game and by the end of the game it was gone. A couple of the other team members told me one certain boy was messing with my son's bag. I really hoped they were wrong because that boy was a friend of mine's son. My husband called the whole team that had left before we knew the phone was missing and asked if they had seen it. Most of the kids said no but a few told us that they thought my friend's son took it. We ended up buying another phone for my son for $160 after suspending the account so it couldn't be used and decided to leave it at that. A couple nights ago we had another game and one of the team members saw my son's phone in the other kid's bag. My son and the boy told my husband and they took the phone back. My husband kept his cool and finished the game. After the game my husband called the kid over and asked him if he could explain how he had my son's phone after he told him that he didn't know what happened to it. The boy told him he didn't put it there and started to walk off. The boy's grandma then stepped in and started yelling at my husband for accusing her grandson of being a thief (which my husband never said thief). They left after my husband walked off saying that the conversation was over. My friend called me and asked to speak to my husband. My husband told her what he said and told her that it was over. He did say that her son would not be playing on his team anymore.

Now my "friend" has decided to sue my husband and the league we play with for defamation of character to a minor. She made a point of going up to the president of the league and telling him that she had a case of defamation of character against my husband and the league because my husband publicly embarrassed her child.

After she said this I went up to a couple other adults that were working the fields and umping and asked them what they saw after the game. They told me that they saw my husband call the boy over but did not know what the conversation was about until the grandma started yelling at my husband. My husband is a great coach and is well liked at our park. I would really hate to see something this petty destroy his reputation here. He puts all his free time volunteering there and I do not want this to ruin that. I also don't want her to drag the league into a stupid lawsuit that has nothing to do with them.

Does she have a case? And if so, what do we need to do next? Should we wait until we get court papers or what?

 

[jacksgal]

If everything you said is accurate there is no case. In meantime get statements from those who talked to your husband about what they saw and anyone who witinessed your talk with the boy. By the way for there to be a successful case they will have to prove your husband lied and that the child has suffered measureable damages. This normally means lost of monies, income property damage or medical expenses. It doubtful ther eis much of a case here but in meantime collect everything you need and have your husband try to recall exactly what he said and if even remotely he accussed boy of theft. Although fact he had phone might end this for them.

 

[mommato4boys]

I was told by a couple people that they did not even know what my husband was talking to the kid about until the grandma shouted. The grandma told my "friend" that my husband yelled at the boy in front of everybody so that is what I am worried about. My "friend" was not even there and she believes her mom when she said that my husband yelled at the boy. I really don't know what to do about it because that is not what happened and I don't want this to be something against my husband or the league(that I don't even see how they can be sued)