She is Telling Lies About Me!
My neighbor has been telling awful lies about me and is ruining my reputation. Can I sue her?
Yes, but you may have difficulty finding a lawyer to help you do it. If your neighbor is truly spreading lies and these lies are hurting your reputation, you can sue her for slander. In Tennessee, you must file suit within six months of the day the slanderous words were spoken.
The problem is that most lawyers will not handle such a case on a contingent fee basis unless significant damages can be proven and there is some likelihood that the damages can be collected. Thus, if the person who has been slandering you has no money, a lawyer will be reluctant to take the case because he or she will not get paid for the work they do.
Of course, if you have money yourself you can hire a lawyer to help you and pay him or her by the hour for the legal work. But, unfortunately, many people get away with saying horrible things about other people because the victim cannot afford to hire a lawyer by the hour and the wrongdoer does not have sufficient assets or income to enable to lawyer to work on a contingent fee.
