“I want to sue several websites over publications claiming that I have affairs with my female employees and force them to have sex with me.” This is how one of my cases began, and it is not an exception. The case was quite interesting. In the end, the media that had publicly spread disgraceful allegations about my client were ordered to pay. As a lawyer for insult and defamation cases in Plovdiv and Sofia, I handle such cases. What matters in them?
Insult or defamation – what is the difference?
An insult is saying or writing something humiliating about a person – “stupid”, “idiot” and the like. Defamation is spreading a false and disgraceful allegation about someone or accusing them of a crime they did not commit – “steals municipal money”, “takes bribes”, “blackmails his female employees”. You can read more on the topic in Defamation and insult against politicians? (in Bulgarian).
Someone is writing to my employer that I steal. What can I do?
This is defamation, even if it was not written publicly. It is enough for the false accusation to have reached another person. Keep the letter or message and find out who else has seen it. You can file a private criminal complaint and claim compensation.
Defamation lawyer in Plovdiv – Facebook, media and websites
Social media create the feeling that anything goes. Hidden behind the keyboard, many people think they can write whatever they want, destroy people’s standing and reputation and get away with it. But that is not true at all. What is written on Facebook, in a group or in a comment is public and is prosecuted like any other insult or defamation. More in Insult on social media (in Bulgarian).
When defamation is spread by the media – television, a newspaper or a news website – not only the person who said it is liable, but also the media outlet that spread it. I have handled cases both against the author of a statement and against the TV channel that broadcast it. I wrote about them in Convictions for insult and defamation in the media (in Bulgarian).
A group of people are smearing me on a blog or website. Can I sue them?
Yes. Everyone who wrote or spread the defamation is liable. If the authors hide behind pseudonyms, we first have to establish who is behind them, and for a website – who runs it.
Frequently asked questions
I was insulted on Facebook. Can I sue them?
Yes. A post or comment on Facebook seen by other people is a public insult or defamation. You can seek both punishment and compensation.
What is the deadline for filing a complaint for criminal proceedings?
The deadlines in criminal and civil cases are different. The private criminal complaint must be filed within six months of the day you learned of the insult or defamation and who committed it. After that the right is lost, so do not delay. For compensation in a civil case, the period is five years.
He insulted me first and I answered back. Now he is suing me. What will happen?
When the insulted person immediately answered with an insult, the court may release both of them, or one of them, from punishment. More in Retorsion in law (in Bulgarian).
Can I go to prison for insult or defamation?
No. Under the Criminal Code, the punishment is a fine and public reprimand. But compensation for the victim is often added, and it can be significant.
If you have been insulted or defamed – or if a complaint has been filed against you – do not hesitate to contact me. As a defamation lawyer in Plovdiv, I will answer all your questions.
Related articles (in Bulgarian)
- Convictions for insult and defamation in the media
- Defamation and insult against politicians?
- Insult on social media
- A defamation case
- Retorsion in law
- SLAPP cases – “slap” lawsuits
- Non-pecuniary damage
More articles (in Bulgarian) in my blog or on the News page at www.advokatdimitrov.com.
I am Rosen Dimitrov, Attorney-at-Law – member of the Plovdiv Bar Association and PhD candidate in civil and family law at the Institute for the State and Law of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Together with my team, I handle cases in Plovdiv, Sofia and throughout the country.
Call or write to me, tell me briefly about your case and we will assess how to proceed. We can meet at the office in Plovdiv or Sofia, or online if needed.
Plovdiv, 2 Nikola Voyvodov Str., floor 1 · Sofia, 66 Vitosha Blvd., floor 4