Repercussions to facebook messages?

[joachim]

I sent about 15 messages, not postings to a friend of a girl whose " boyfriend", was my ex, to let her know, with copies of texts attached that he was contacting me during their vacay together (at the time while they were on it ) that spoke of his love and intent to leave her after the trip and couldn't wait to have a life with me in marriage. We were going to try and reconcile and when I found out he was doing this I wanted to let her know and yes, it was partially for myself as well since he drug me into going behind someones back and I didn't know it. Now he says he's getting an attorney to say there was defammation. If what I said was all true, did I do something wrong? Could I be sued for libel or anything else? I know people can sue for anything, I'm asking, how far is this likely to get in his favor. I have no income and assets so if he succeeds in suing, will I be forever trying to pay something? I know I acted out of emotion and should have just walked away and now wish I had. I became no better than him by doing so.

[dacy17]

He is blowing smoke. He has no case. What you said was all true which is an absolute defense against defamation. Any judge would laugh in his face. Forget about it and him.

[corcoran42]

It sounds like an empty threat. Attorneys don't like to work for free and you have no money.

He also has to HAVE some character for it to be defamed. If what you reported was true, that hardly makes for slander or defamation.

[teyrnon72]

No, you could not be sued for defamation of character or libel just for forwarding emails/FB messages. Libel/defamation requires that you are making factually untrue statements about someone in order to degrade their character/reputation. By just forwarding the messages, you're not lying at all, just showing her what he said. It'd be no different if he sent you a love letter in the physical mail and you showed it to her.

It would only be defamation if you edited the messages, or added lies about him to it, but it doesn't sound like you did either.

[teyrnon72]

Ah, kids this days and your crazy facebook.

But joking aside, if you can prove everything you said then it's not defamation, now is it? Just make sure you keep all your records and in case you lost some of them make a request with your phone company to give you a detailed report of all the things you've received from his number (or any other number affiliated with him), they will release this information if it will server as defense in a lawsuit.

I wouldn't worry too much, especially if you're actually telling the truth and there's nothing more behind it. His schemes were ruined and now that everything collapsed in his world he's making empty threats, and thing about empty threats it's that they're empty.