How to File an Injunction for Slander

File a defamation lawsuit if slander cost you your job.

Slander is defined, under law, as defamation of character. Specifically, slander is a verbal offense that causes provable harm to the character and/or reputation of an individual in a personal or professional capacity. Obtaining an injunction for slander is accomplished by filing a defamation lawsuit. Be sure you have hard evidence -- audio recording, video recording and/or witness testimony, for example -- to substantiate your claim and improve your chances of success.

Things You'll Need

• Personal identification
• Evidence of slander

Instructions

1. Visit the office of the clerk for the civil court in the county in which you reside.

2. Present at least two current forms of identification to the clerk -- a driver's license and birth certificate, for example. Ask the clerk for a petition to file a defamation lawsuit.

3. Explain the episode, or episodes, of slander in detail on the petition. Note who vocalized the slander (the defendant), dates, times and places when it happened, and the circumstances in which the episode took place. Fill out the petition in full; make three copies of both the petition and any evidence in your possession supporting your claim.

4. Return two sets of copies to the clerk; one for court records and one for the defendant's subpoena. Once the petition is filed and a subpoena is issued, the defendant will automatically be ordered to cease and desist all alleged slanderous activity. Maintain one set of copies for your own records. Ask the clerk about a hearing date.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult an attorney, if necessary, before returning forms to the clerk to receive an expert opinion on the matter.

References

• Milwaukee.gov: Civil Lawsuits
• Sustein Law: Defamation, Commercial Disparagement, and False Advertising; Julia Huston and Sarah C. Peck