Can I sue my 86yo grandma for defamation?

[sheikalana]

She's trying to put everyone against my dad which is her son with lies and false accusations. It's really sad cuz she doesn't have many more years of life and I don't want to put her in trouble but she won't stop until she sees destroys my dad.

[ProbablyClueless]

In theory, but defamation is a pretty high bar to meet. Basically, you have to demonstrate that your grandmother knowingly made a provably false statement about your father (or at least something she should have reasonably known was false), told that statement to someone/a group of people, and that that statement directly resulted in your father's financial injury. That's different from gossiping about vaguely unflattering things.

For example: even though your grandmother knows your father helps at a local soup kitchen on Sunday afternoons, your grandmother tells a bunch of animal lovers "I saw Greg kicking kittens in his living room after church," which causes your father's pet grooming business to collapse because everyone now thinks he abuses animals.

She knows/should know that what she's saying isn't true. It's a specific claim. It directly results in your father's financial injury.

[Drumlin2001]

Is she defaming you? Sounds like your dad may have a case, you wouldn't on his behalf.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t. She’s 86 years old, probably not quite all there upstairs, and spouting nonsense. I highly doubt anyone believes or even really pays attention to what she says. If they do, then they were never a friend to your dad. A good friend or even family would go to him directly and ask his side, that’s if they even have concerns for what she’s saying.
Anyone who judges him based on the ramblings of some old woman are people he doesn’t need in his life.
You both know his truth, and so should anyone else with common sense. This isn’t worth the stress and strain you’d put on someone who MAYBE has 10 years left, if anything I would just distance myself from her the best I could and pray for her deliverance.

[Spongebobssocks]

Lol she will be gone soon anyways and she knows it. Just let her be.

[Anonymous]

Do it but it won't do much against an 86 year old

[sheikalana]

Wouldn't she get scared and stop with the nonsense?

[Opinion Owner]

I don't know her depends on what she's like

[sheikalana]

She believes her own lies that's what's scary.

[Opinion Owner]

Then she won't stop

[slatyb]

No, you can't, unless she has considerable assets.

[sheikalana]

Why not?

[slatyb]

Because lawyers don't work for free. They will take a case on contingency only if there's a chance of a large enough settlement to make it worth their time. People with little money are "judgment-proof". Even if you win a case and are awarded a judgement, it's can't be collected.

[Anonymous]

Is she mentally unstable?

[sheikalana]

I suspect it's dementia but so far we haven't heard from the doctor.

[Staximus]

Have her committed to the looney bin

[Jmmmfi4]

I have no idea... probably not

[roy_ricky09]

Shame on you

[sheikalana]

Shame on her for spreading lies about her own son and trying to destroy his life.

[roy_ricky09]

You'll see when and if you reach that age

[sheikalana]

She's always been evil to everyone.

[roy_ricky09]

Oh really! Aren't you the same person who once asked that your dad asks too many questions... And you should recall your answers. And let your grandma live her life the way she wants. You are no one to dictate her. If your father has issues he will deal with it himself

[sheikalana]

But she's spreading false accusations about him to everyone. The man doesn't even leave the house anymore cuz he's ashamed of the things she's been saying.

[roy_ricky09]

That's his problem not yours

[sheikalana]

It's everyone's problem! She lives with them. She tried to put his wife which is my mom, my brother which is his son, her daughter, other members of our family and the neighbors against my dad. How do you expect me to just sit and listen to her when she's accused my dad of trying to murder her? It's everyone's business.

[roy_ricky09]

That's her house you live in.

[sheikalana]

I do not leave with them. I live in another country.