Social Media and Your Ongoing Court Case
We've all heard about them -- those Facebook users who make irresponsible posts, only to suffer the consequences later. The Internet is rife with stories about people who post derogatory comments about their boss and get fired the next day, or people who post photos of themselves kissing someone, and then get slammed later with a divorce suit. In today's social-media-driven society, there are plenty of seemingly innocent ways in which you can cause trouble for yourself -- especially if you have an ongoing court case.
If you have an impending court case, it's imperative that you keep your social media "clean" from any pictures or posts that could negatively impact your results. No matter what type of case it is, your social media sites can be used by opposing attorneys as evidence against you -- and your posts can be interpreted in ways that can hinder a positive outcome.
Incriminating Photos
In social media, pictures can be worth a thousand words, especially to opposing attorneys and insurance lawyers. If you're trying to win damages in a workman's comp or accident case, for example, and you post a photo of yourself throwing a ball to your kid, that photo can be used as proof that you're not really as disabled as you say you are -- even if your arm was incapacitated for the rest of the day from throwing that single ball. Likewise, if you're fighting a DUI case and there's a recent photo of you drinking, this can be used to "prove" that you're an irresponsible drinker/driver.
Facebook Rants
If you have a court case in your future, one of the worst things you can do is discuss it on Facebook, Twitter or any other website. For example, in a divorce proceeding, if you indulge your feelings with even one hateful post about your spouse, opposing attorneys can use it to generate sympathy for their client. Likewise, if you have a wrongful firing or harassment suit against your employer, that angry rant you posted on Facebook about your job can be used to prove that you had a bad attitude and deserved to be fired.
Protecting Yourself
The best thing you can do is completely refrain from discussing your impending court case online. In addition, it's a good idea to remove all photos of yourself engaging in any type of behavior that could be misinterpreted in court.When it comes to protecting yourself, here are some points to remember:
Make sure to check ALL your social media accounts -- including Google +, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn -- for any personal posts or pics that might be incriminating. Also, check your posts in any message forums where you're a contributor. Delete anything that may hinder your case, even if it seems far-fetched to do so.
Set your social media privacy settings so that no one can access your content, except for connections you know and trust.
In addition to reviewing your own posts and pictures, be sure to check your friends' posts. Delete anything that can be used to incriminate you.
Ask your friends (if they know about your case) not to discuss it online, even if they think that their posts won't be seen by anyone involved.
In the end, many people wisely prefer to keep a low profile online while they're dealing with legal issues. By staying out of the social media spotlight, you can not only ensure that your good name is protected; you can also prevent trumped-up evidence from finding its way into your court case.
