What can I do about an ex-landlord “trash talking” me on Facebook?
<p>I had lived in a shared rental house with 4 other tenants. Problems arose when the landlord wanted me to move out early despite what the lease said. He got the other tenants to bug me until I agreed, but I insisted he paid for the cost of moving. Clearly he holds ill feelings about me, and I just found out he’s been “trash talking” me on Facebook and posted a link to my account. What actions should I take? I intend to block him and report it to Facebook as bullying. Is there anything else I should do, like take screen shots in case things go further?</p>

<p>I was willing to forget the situation after I got my damage deposit back but things like this keep coming up and I haven’t fully excluded the possibility their may be some arbitration/court with him in the future.</p>

<p>In terms of what he’s actually posting about me on Facebook is just stupid crap, mainly name calling and saying “I’m the worst person in the world” and how I left rotting food and came back and threw garbage on their lawn. There is no element of truth to any of these claims.</p>

<p>Actually, he has been libelling you which is defamation in writing - slander is verbal defamation.</p>

<p>Notwithstanding, if what he has done has or is likely to cause damage to your reputation and is a statement of fact that is not true then it is actionable.</p>

<p>Neither name calling nor his opinion that you "are the worst person in the world" are statements of fact. Saying you left rotting food and that you threw garbage on the lawn are.</p>

<p>You could sue for damages or seek an injunction requiring him to withdraw his statements and apologise, however, a better (and cheaper) first step would be to send a cease and desist letter. You can find templates online or pay a lawyer to send one. The latter is likely to scare the s@&amp;t out of him and may be worth the money just for the satisfaction.</p>

<p>Who is going to read this nonsense? <em>That</em> is the question.</p>

<p>If your former landlord is just posting this nonsense on your personal timeline, it’s irritating but honestly not “slander.” But if—for example—you have a local community group/page on Facebook and the claims of you damaging things were posted there you <em>might</em> have a case; how much you want to pursue it is your call. At the end of the day this tantrum will most likely fade away to be forgotten in a week or so.</p>

<p>But my best advice? You should take screenshots of the trash talk and save them somewhere just in case if this escalates to something else. That way you can prove that this has been happening for a while. And <em>maybe</em> you can send them a note—or even post a comment on Facebook that says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“Look, I’m not going to take any of this trash talk bait seriously,
  but if you continue to do this even when I ask you to stop you are
  engaging in harassment. I have screenshots. I have a copy of my lease.
  I know you are upset, but if you are harassing me and we go to court I
  will win. Simple as that. So please stop this for your own benefit.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Past that? Doesn’t seem like “trash talk” on its own is much of anything.</p>

<p>Just because someone is posting mean and impolite things about you doesn't make it defamation.  You must prove what the person is saying is a lie, they know it's a lie, they intended to cause you harm and you suffered actual physical and/or financial damage.  The damage piece is usually the hardest part to prove.  If you lost your job because of the posting or someone clearly communicated to you they refuse to do business with you because of the posting then you may have a case for defamation.  But based on what you state in your post, you don't have a case.  You even got your full security deposit back which definitely hurts any claim you have to financial damage.  It's a common misconception in America that if someone "trash talks" you on social media or behind your back you can sue them for $1 billion to make them stop because it hurts your feelings and strike it rich all at the same time.  But, in reality, it's actually very, very difficult to prevail in a defamation proceeding.  </p>

<p>My advice to you is to unfriend and block this person so they can't post anything to your timeline.  Then just move on with your life.  </p>

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