Example Legal Letter 2 

To: journalist@emailaccount.co.uk

From: CalburnandFinch@lawfirm.com

Subject: False Allegations Regarding Our Client

4 November 2025. 22:30.Emails can often be sent late at night as a tactic of a SLAPP, i.e. to make it difficult to communicate with anyone.

I am writing to you about a statement that you published concerning our client, Mr Smith, and harassment in the workplace. Our client works for a charity and is a respected professional in the community who denies these allegations.

By emails dated 28 October 2025, John Doe, a journalist (the “Author”) notified our client that he is investigating these allegations for a publication, InvestigativeJournalism, that he writes for. We have not seen a draft of the article, but we have been sent a copy of the allegations (the “Allegations”). If you continue with your investigation and subsequent publication of the article, we receive all rights to pursue any or all the following without further notice:

  • Filing defamation claims against multiple parties, including you personally as the author, and InvestigativeJournalism, as the publisherSLAPP victims can be individuals but also the organisations they work for.

  • Pursuing an urgent injunction to prevent further publication or dissemination of the false allegations
  • Seeking aggravated damages based on the malicious nature of the allegations and the apparent conflict of interest that appears to have motivated them

  • Claiming special damages for all quantifiable business losses resulting from reputational harm.In this letter, there have been three types of damages mentioned, making it appear particularly threatening.

  • Requesting exemplary damages due to the deliberate disregard of journalistic standardsThere is mention here about disregarding journalistic standards. Look at the 'Protection from SLAPPs' section of the website to ensure that you always engage in good practices.

  • Taking action against you personally that would not be covered by InvestigativeJournalism’s institutional or legal protectionsA common tactic of SLAPPs is to try and make the victim feel isolated which the following points do.

  • Creating a permanent public court record of the defamation judgment that would be discoverable by future employers through standard background checks
  • Pursuing personal financial damages that could result in County Court Judgments (CCJs) against you that would remain on your credit record for six years
  • Compelling you and related parties to provide sworn testimony under oath regarding your sources and communication with our client.

If we receive confirmation within 24 hours of this email that you intend on ceasing your investigation then we will take no further action on behalf of our client.SLAPP letters will often provide a short timeframe to increase pressure.

Defamation is a complex area of law and we urge you to seek independent legal advice immediately.Seeking legal advice is always best practice.

We look forward to hearing from you on this matter.

Yours faithfully,

Caliburn & Finch Solicitors