Im being sued for slander? will i have to pay legal fees?

[stein74]

I have been a Navy Wife for over 2 years and have always been warned about the gossip and drama but have always given people the benefit of the doubt. There is one woman who is absolutely malicious to other wives saying things on facebook to try to break up marriages etc. We used to be friends but after all the things she has done to other people I just learned to keep my distance from this woman since she is not deserving of mine or anyone else's trust. She was spreading a rumor around about a friend of mine saying her husband cheated on her while he was overseas. A few weeks ago, months later she found a picture of my friend's husband and another girl and sent it to people on facebook including his wife and me. I asked her why she was sending me this (obviously she must have thought i would find it amusing) and she said it was an "accident". Me knowing her cruel nature simply stated to her "they are good people and their marriage is none of our business" she then blocked me on facebook and i decided to let the ombudsman know about the situation so when she does something to someone else they would be aware of her character. I spoke nothing but the truth and never called her names. She found out I said something to the ombudsman about the situation and is now trying to sue me for slander. I looked up the definition of slander which means making false statements about someone else. A friend of mine told me of her intentions and said that the woman's mother is a lawyer and she said that knows the case will probably get thrown out but she wants me to get stuck with legal fees to "pay for what I have done". Is this even possible? will i have to pay legal fees when i did nothing but speak the truth?

Also, what I told the ombudsman had no effect on her or her husband's military career or their life. I guess I could understand if it affected them somehow but it has not.

[stein74]

Lawyers are expensive. I wouldn't get one just yet. Let her waste money on a lawyer for a while. Meet with them, listen, ask questions, but don't admit anything. If she actually sues you, then yes, get a lawyer. Don't try to defend yourself.

I've been involved in one similar situation and from what you say, her case sounds extremely weak. I think it will be hard for her to show she has a measurable loss and that you are the primary cause of that loss unless you give that to her. From what I've seen, slander is often not easy to prove. Is she talking about this in a public venue, such as on face book? If so, document that. If she's talking about it, it's much harder for her to prove any tarnished reputation comes from you and not her talking about it.

That's my take based on what you've said, but I'm not a lawyer and you have a better perspective on the strength of her claim than any of us do.

[golding]

If she sues you, you'll have to get a lawyer to go to court. Of course, you can ask that she be made responsible for the legal fees.

[ji]

YOU WILL HAVE TO GET A LAWYER. The lawyer can move for dismissal and payment of legal fees for the frivolous suit.