I am a newspaper reporter in Virginia. As a result of my reporting, a person that I write about has created a Web site calling for a boycott of my employer and making untrue, defamatory statements about me and my reporting (which is accurate and balanced, thank you). This person has created similar defamatory sites for public officials in the area. My company has had the page about me taken down, but it is continually re-posted.

I am wondering whether I fall under a category of public figure as a result of my job, or if I am a private citizen. Outside of work, I'm not involved in the community or outspoken about anything.

Thanks in advance for your help.

slander, defamation, or what?

i was arrested for possession of stolen property and charged with it accordingly... they entered with a warrant, found less than 2 grams of ''vegative matter'' which it says on the warrent inventory, i was not charged with possession or anything of the sort.

then, of course the news paper had an article about the stolen property, but it also had in there that i was charged with possession of marijuana WHICH i was not.

this has caused me trouble with my job, my family, and financial lending institutions for school.

i think i deserve financial compensation from either the news paper or the county because the cop had to of told them this information. i dont know!

if so would i settle in small claims?

if its worth more, would any lawyer take it pro bono?

or, is it pointless to file suit?

i dont know what to--name removed-- but this has caused me distress.

thank you for any advice or help.

I'm an 18 year old from Illinois.

I was driving on the expressway yesterday and the semi in front of me unexpectedly hit his brakes so I swerved into the left lane (where there were no cars) and started fishtailing. I ended up hitting the concrete wall and totaling my car.

The police officer wrote me a ticket for Improper Lane Usage, and then told me that I had to go to court no matter what but, if i went and plead not guilty the court would most likely throw out the ticket because there are no witnesses.

Should i do that? What are the consequences if i plead not guilty and they find me guilty anyway?