Nov
4
Can I protest and inform people about a harmful business and avoid libel per se and tortious misconduct?
Filed Under Utah Business
Marisol asked:
The company I’m talking about is an LGAT (Impact in Utah). They run seminars or trainings that promise self-improvement, happier living, heightened self-esteem, etc. They mainly rely on former trainees to recruit new trainees, but sign a form saying they promise not to disclose what actually happens at the trainings with anyone who hasn’t been, therefore people go in uniformed, only trusting already duped loved ones. When you’re there you are humiliated, yelled at, sleep deprived, and otherwise broken down. After that they teach you that it is your old belief systems that caused you life to be so bad, and then they teach you there own convoluted philosophies.
This company has already threatened legal action when others have spoke openly about them. Is it possible to legally hold a protest near the building on recruitment nights? How can I make information public without risking a libel or tortious misconduct suit?
Thank you for your help!
I really need to know about this. Please specify whether you are contributing opinion, or whether you have experience with law , have a degree in law or other expertise form whence you pulled your answer.
Thanks again!
Chez-
Everyone agreed to not disclose the training processes after six hours of yelling, in a room with no windows in a group of 120 people. If you don’t agree to it, you are publicly escorted out and lose your $150 deposit. No one knows the rules when the deposit is initially paid.
Chez-
Everyone agreed to not disclose the training processes after six hours of yelling, in a room with no windows in a group of 120 people. If you don’t agree to it, you are publicly escorted out and lose your $150 deposit. No one knows the rules when the deposit is initially paid. Would that constitute signing under diress?
Adam
The company I’m talking about is an LGAT (Impact in Utah). They run seminars or trainings that promise self-improvement, happier living, heightened self-esteem, etc. They mainly rely on former trainees to recruit new trainees, but sign a form saying they promise not to disclose what actually happens at the trainings with anyone who hasn’t been, therefore people go in uniformed, only trusting already duped loved ones. When you’re there you are humiliated, yelled at, sleep deprived, and otherwise broken down. After that they teach you that it is your old belief systems that caused you life to be so bad, and then they teach you there own convoluted philosophies.
This company has already threatened legal action when others have spoke openly about them. Is it possible to legally hold a protest near the building on recruitment nights? How can I make information public without risking a libel or tortious misconduct suit?
Thank you for your help!
I really need to know about this. Please specify whether you are contributing opinion, or whether you have experience with law , have a degree in law or other expertise form whence you pulled your answer.
Thanks again!
Chez-
Everyone agreed to not disclose the training processes after six hours of yelling, in a room with no windows in a group of 120 people. If you don’t agree to it, you are publicly escorted out and lose your $150 deposit. No one knows the rules when the deposit is initially paid.
Chez-
Everyone agreed to not disclose the training processes after six hours of yelling, in a room with no windows in a group of 120 people. If you don’t agree to it, you are publicly escorted out and lose your $150 deposit. No one knows the rules when the deposit is initially paid. Would that constitute signing under diress?
Adam
Comments
4 Responses to “Can I protest and inform people about a harmful business and avoid libel per se and tortious misconduct?”
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It has always been my understanding that TRUTH is an absolute defense against libel or slander. Make sure that any information that you put out is based on fact and not your personal feelings. Also, you have the right to peaceably assemble. You need the assembly to be on public property and you need to secure any permits required by the municipality. As long as you are acting within the structure of the law, let them take legal action. (They won’t as they really don’t want the bad PR).
call a lawyer, and maybe the fbi. sounds a lot like brainwashing to me.
I protested a mechanic shop about 5 years ago and was worried about the same thing. They threatened us with the same thing but after we consulted an attorney, we found as long as you are not on their property and are not preventing people from entering their business you are fine there. As for the lible/slander issue…If you have signs that simply display your opinion you should be fine. You cannot make claims that cannot be proven…but you cannot “prove” an opinion. You have to be creative. You have to be able to put on your sign something “cryptic” if you will that outsiders will be able to get the jist of without directly making claims against the business about specific things they did or did not do. I hope that made sense. ??? **But if you are putting the “truth” out there, you have to make sure that you have the means to prove that/justify it with evidence if you do end up in court**
if you signed a contract, where you agree not to disclose the content of the training, then yes you could be sued. Not for libel per se but for breach of contract and intentional interference with a business relationship.
However, if you feel that as an attendee, you were misled such that the contract you signed was unconscionable, or made under duress, then the contract is unenforceable, and you can thus excercise your first amendment rights.
A defense against libel per se is truth. If you speak the truth, there can be no defamation of any kind.