Plaintiff's Lawyer Told Defendant's Child That Defendant is No Good

[jamesricci]

My question involves defamation in the state of: Plantiff's Attorney telling my 6yr old daughter I'm no good and an embarrasment as we were walking back in to the courtroom. I was in a Small Claims hearing, I stepped outside the courtroom to go over my financial afidavit that I provided to the plantiff's attorney. In the conference room he was becoming upset cause I don't have any money. I asked him not to raise his voice. He then walked out of the conference room to enter into the courtroom when he stopped turned around to my daughter and said "Your dad is no good! He is an embarrassment!". We went back in the courtroom where he told the judge that he wanted to continue the case cause I would not cooperate. The judge explained he could hold me in contempt and throw me in jail because I didn't provide the plantiff with the financial Afidavit which I was ordered to do that date. The judge saw me give it to him before we even left the courtroom to go to the conference room. The judge finally let me speak after telling me all the consequences of abiding by the court order. I told him I provided the attorney with the affidavit and all he said was be back in court the assigned date.

[aardvarc]

Unprofessional, but anyone, including plaintiff's attorney, is allowed to have, and voice, their opinions of others. If you've got $15,000 to $30,000 to get a defamation case STARTED, you can certainly seek a local attorney to take your money and head down that path. But you're not going to collect damages on this.

I don't have any money

Defamation cases are lengthy and expensive, and attorneys don't take them on contingency unless you're a celebrity.

[Mr. Knowitall]

... when he stopped turned around to my daughter and said "Your dad is no good! He is an embarrassment!"

Defamation cases are predicated upon false statements of fact, not unflattering opinions. The statement you describe is one of opinion. The conduct you describe is inappropriate, but that does not turn it into a defamation case.