Internet Forum Libel

[West]

My jurisdiction is: Kansas

Thank you in advance for your help. I belong to an internet forum and have a question regarding libel/defamation. I posted a picture that did not
name the person in question or identify him or his competing board, that
he deemed offensive. The picture in question was meant to convey the
"heavy handed way" he operates his own forum. As a practical point,
I removed the picture and apologized if "it offended him" - I do not intend
to post there again or respond to him in anyway. Would this person
have any case against me for libel or defamation ?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Just because something offends another person doesn't deem it actionable. I know there are facts here that may be relevant we are not reading. In general, defamation (libel) requires a false statement and not just a mere opinion. If you say "I think that Joe's forum is terrible and that he runs the forum with an iron hand" then that isn't defamation. It's your opinion. If you wrote "Joe is runs the forum with an iron hand and he's also cheats on his wife with his gay boyfriend and the girl down the block who sleeps with everyone" - that could be actionable, especially if the statements aren't true. Certain types of defamation are "by themselves" damaging and you don't need to prove the damages, e.g. in some jurisdictions the false statements made about a woman's sexual habits. Without more, I'd tend to think that a general negative opinion is not defamation.

 

[West]

Thank you for your opinion and reply. Much appreciated.