Claims for defamation are becoming more common in business disputes between shareholders of closely-held businesses, employers and their ex-employees, and competitors. Trepanier MacGillis Battina P.A. has extensive experience successfully representing business parties in commercial defamation lawsuits in state and federal court in Minnesota. Attorneys at the firm can also respond to or draft cease-and-desist letters to resolve cases short of litigation.

Please note that the firm does not handle defamation claims between individuals. We only handle defamation claims in business disputes such as litigation between employers and their ex-employees or between competitors. Many of these cases also involve breach of restrictive covenants (e.g., non-competition or non-solicitation agreements), misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with customer relations, deceptive trade practices, or trademark infringement.

Defamation in Minnesota includes both libel and slander. Libel is defamation in the form of a written or published statement. Slander is a defamation in the form of a spoken statement. Defamation is a false statement, communicated to a third party, that injures another person’s reputation or good name. A defamatory statement may be publicly spoken or published in writing such as in a book or on-line.

The firm has experience with related claims such as trade defamation, deceptive trade practices, breach of non-disparagement contracts, invasion of privacy, malicious injury, and tortious interference.

Trepanier MacGillis Battina P.A. can assist you with any questions you may have about business defamation under Minnesota law.