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Our attorneys represent plaintiffs, defendants ( anonymous or identified ) and third
parties in defamation litigation. The attorneys in our firm possess the knowledge and skills from diverse perspectives to represent our defamation ( libel or slander ) clients in an assertive, effective, and efficient manner. Whether protecting the reputation of a person or company from defamation; protecting the rights of anonymous and known speakers (online and offline) to free speech; whether involving print publication, oral communications, or via the Internet on blogs, websites, social meda, email, and other sources, we possess strategies developed over almost a decade of defamation litigation in Illinois, Indiana, Connecticut, Utah, Arizona, Tennessee, Idaho, Utah, and other diverse jurisdictions.
The defamation ( libel slander cybermsear) representation provided by our attorneys and lawyers is described more fully below. Elsewhere on our site, we also provide more information about defamation law in general.
In all cases, an attorney will initially discuss your matter at no charge.
Personalized Approach
Not all objectionable statements will constitute defamation or be defamatory.
Not all opinion statements will be protected by the First Amendment or state constitutions.
For this reason, we treat each situation with individualized attention
and provide our clients with a well-reasoned and seasoned perspective.
The care, effort and skill we invest on behalf of each client makes
our firm unique and well-positioned to represent our clients interests. Each attorney or lawyer in our firm will provide individualized advice and strategy.
For Victims
of False Statements Made About Them
Our firm has long protected individuals about whom false statements have been made online, in print, and/or through oral communications. Through our practice, our firm has developed strategies to mitigate the harm caused by the statements (including, where possible, the removal of such statements) and pursue available remedies against those who made such false statements. Indeed, every attorney in our
firm vigorously protects the reputations of our clients
by acting swiftly in attacking false statements and those who have
made them.
Whether by false statements made orally (slander) or by false statements
made in writing (libel) to another person or persons, we have the
experience and knowledge to act decisively and quickly to protect
our clients interests. We understand the potential embarassment,
reputational harm, and economic losses that can arise from defamatory
statements made to another individual.
For Those
Who Have Exercised their Right to Free Speech
At the same time, our firm protects our clients who have exercised their right to free speech - whether online, in print, or through oral communications. For those of our clients who have made statements about others and find themselves involved in litigation or the threat of litigation, we respond aggressively to protect their interests and rights. Every lawyer in our firm vigorously protects the First
Amendment and state rights of our clients who have been unjustly
sued for making (anonymously or not) statements protected by the
law.
The First Amendment protects a broad range of speech. Many times,
individuals will make statements of opinion or truthful statements
to which the subject of the statement objects and chooses to litigate.
We have successfully defended a number of individuals in such situations.
Anonymous Speech
In particular, where our clients speak anonymously, our firm makes every effort to protect the identity of our clients from being disclosed. Our firm, through Charles Lee Mudd Jr., helped pioneer representing the interests of anonymous speakers online. Our firm represented parties in the Mobilisa v. The Suggestion Box, et al. through which the Mobilisa standard emerged for determining when the identifies of anonymous speakers should be disclosed. Our firm possesses deep experience and background on these issues unavailable in other firms.
Third-Party Internet Service Providers and Other Parties
Our attorneys vigorously represent the interests of third
parties who have been subpoenaed for information related to statements
that may have been made by their customers.
Unique Types of Defamation Litigation
Cybersmear or Internet Defamation
Cybersmear has come to be defined as online statements or conduct that tends
to defame individuals or entities. Throughout the last seven years,
the attorneys in our firm have developed specific, refined knowledge
about cybersmear litigation and the particularized techniques employed
in such litigation. In particular, our firm has experience in defending
anonymous and pseudonoymous online speech, protecting the identities
of such individuals, and overcoming aggressive and retaliatory litigation. We have provided summaries of certain past and present cybersmear litigation in which we have been involved.
John Doe
Litigation
John Doe Litigation has come to reference litigation efforts to
unmask the identities of anonymous or pseudononymous individuals.
Many times, this litigation will file suit against a John Doe or
John Does. In such cases, the Plaintiff will obtain leave to initiate
discovery in the form of a subpoena directed to an Internet Service
Provider ("ISP") to obtain the identity of the individual.
Other times, the litigation or lawsuit will file suit against an
Internet Service Provider ("ISP") directly to obtain the
identity of the individual through discovery. In both cases, the
ISP may provide notice to the subscriber of the pending litigation
so the individual subscriber might object and file a motion to quash.
Our firm has experience in both forms of litigation.
For more information about our litigation involving
defamation, please explore descriptions of selected current
and past
cases.
Our firm's main office is located in Chicago, Illinois. We also service the entire Chicagoland area in Cook County as well as DuPage, Will, Lake, and other surrounding counties. Our Park City, Utah office is located in downtown Park City. Our firm has attorneys licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Utah and Connecticut. In addition, our principal, Charles Mudd, has developed a national defamation practice.
(See also our more in-depth discussion of defamation law.)
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