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Can we sue a police department for defamation or get same compensation?

Business 2 views 5 answers
Recently on my hotel we recorded on video a guy taking a cellphone from the hands of a guest texting outside his room. Police came and I gave the video to them in order to help catch the guy. Three weeks later the same video was played in the News of a famous TV channel.

Attorney Answers

5
Keith Petrochko ·
Where do you see defamation? You have to be leaving something (huge) out of the story.
0 upvotes
John GillespieCriminal Defense AttorneyKissimmee, FL ·
In the facts you stated there is no possibility of a defamation action. You said you "gave" the video to the police to help solve a crime, which was very civic-minded of you. But news stations do not usually pay for news. Maybe there is a way to collect something from a crime tip line or similar organization but I do not see how you can be compensated after the fact for something you gave away.
0 upvotes
Christopher Dillingham ·
You do not have any cause of action whatsoever.
0 upvotes
Rixon Rafter ·
Hard to see how you were defamed. Defamation is damaging someones good reputation. You turned over video to police to help catch the guy and now you want to sue police because they are trying to catch the guy??? No suit.
0 upvotes

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