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ching c asked in Family & RelationshipsFamily · 8 years ago

Can this sister in law sue me?

A few months ago, my sister in law was being kicked out her home by her brother- and asked me to rent my old house. I gave notice to the existing tenants, and then threw away the furniture in the place, as she wanted her own stuff in there. She didn't even stay the whole month and moved out- leaving me in the lurch and very angry. It cost a thousand pounds to replace everything and get another tenant in. I told her to get out of my life and stay out. I probably shouldn't have texted her that as I swore at her a lot, but I'm pregnant and couldn't cope with all the drama coming from her.

Yesterday she tried getting in touch with my husband again and I went mad. She obviously thinks nothing of what she did and is arrogant enough to think that she hasn't done anything wrong. So I FB her a message to basically f**k off out of our lives. She's now saying she's going to the police for slander- which I know you can't do- you have to sue someone for slander through the courts, but there are reasons for it. Can she do that? and is there anything I can do to retaliate like sue her for all the costs I have incurred? I also lost one of my twins I was carrying during all this process

Thanks for reading

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Slander is a civil action. That means that the police have no interest in the matter. Slander is defamatory speech. Since her complaint is based around written messages, she could only attempt to sue for libel. That said, no lawyer is going to want to step into court in such an action if he feels that there is less than a 50/50 chance of winning. Telling someone to f**k off is not libellous.

    Next. Could you sue her for the costs you have incurred ? Very difficult. If you didn't have a tenancy agreement in place then there is nothing that is enforceable. It was your choice to dispose of the furniture. You could have required that she store it whilst she lived in the place. I presume she didn't give you a deposit on the place either. Chalk it down to experience and move on. Really sorry to hear about your loss though. Hope the remainder of your pregnancy results in better fortune.

  • 8 years ago

    Slander? How did you slander her? Slander means you said something that wasn't true and it affected someone's life, you did none of those things, you told called her what she was. The police have better things to do than to investigate stupid fights. You could probably sue her for leaving you out on a lurch so if she wants to play, then let's play.

    You need to keep her out of your lives, whether or not she's his sister or not she's nuts. Did she pay rent for that month? If not you could sue for that, as far as the furniture, you chose to toss it out, you could have put it in storage. This give you some leverage with your husband because the next time she asks your husband and you for anything, you can bring all this up. I am sorry for the loss of your baby but don't get caught up in the drama, leave her a lone and tell your husband you want nothing to do with her and won't ever help her again for what she's done to you.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    Sorry for your loss.

    If she wants to sue you for slander she needs a lawyer, then she needs to prove it, so it will be your word against hers, unless you put it on facebook. If you just said it to her, she cant do anything at all and she would need some serious cash which I doubt she has.

    If you can prove she broke a lease with you and you have a copy, you can get money out of her. As you voluntarily threw the furniture out and bought new that's your fault, unless you can prove she was the reason you had to do it, and you have all the receipts.

  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    Well anyone can sue anyone these days unless it is a mother and father with there child under sixteen. What I would reckon is to tell your husband to tell her to stop as he is the closest point of connection towards you both. If she needs to rent a house, sorry to say, I don't think she is going to spend the rent money in sewing you as it would be out of her own pay. She has no where to live and she moved out all the furniture??? Did she give it to the opportunity shop? Anyway, if she did try to sew you, you have reasons, for vialation of property or whatever she did to your furniture and the house you let her rent.

    Source(s): Knowledge of sometime
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  • 8 years ago

    She is bad news. So sorry u lost your baby.

    I think u have time, time to sue. It doesn't have to be done right away. U need evidence right away. recipts or whatever is needed for your case. Can u stop falling into her trap. She is obviously doing this to get a rise from Uuu. U & your husband need to take a deep breath & just look the other way. Maybe even change your phone #'s. Anything that can help u not get emotional over her empty statements.

  • 8 years ago

    I am unaware of the laws in the UK but im pretty sure she cant sue you.

    And technically you weren't slandering her (merriam webster- to make a false spoken statement that causes people to have a bad opinion of someone), you just scolded her and almost everyone does that.

    Shes probably just in denial.

  • 8 years ago

    Yes

    Source(s): GCSE/AS : LAW
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