Examples of Legal Problem

As a public relations writer, you represent the management of your organization. What you release is interpreted as the voice of management. Nevertheless, you can be held personally liable for any statements that cause defamation or violate the guidelines of state regulatory agencies. Actions are ordinarily brought against the top officials of an organization, but remember that you can be named as a co-defendant.

To protect yourself, you should be sure that the facts you are given are accurate. It is no excuse to say, "The boss told me that was so". In a trial, you must be able to prove that you made a reasonable effort to verify information.

Among the actions for which you might be liable are the following:

• Disseminating information that a court or regulatory agency finds misleading, untrue, or damaging

• Participating in an illegal action

• Counseling or guiding policy to accomplish an illegal action

• Setting up an organization whose real identity is concealed.