I went to college in the UK. I left my design college due to disability with my hands. I knew I could no longer compete on that intense of a level, but I was still a very good designer. I wrote a letter to a design school in UK explaining my circumstances. They were kind enough to accept me into their 2nd year program.
Right before I defend my thesis and final project (which I worked very hard on), the head of the dept explains that “we spoke to your other college and they told us ALL about you!” Then the head of the dept said I was lying about having been disabled in my letter. So I ended up getting a 3rd. I don’t feel it was reflective of my course work, but more of this slanderous situation that they’d created. I can obviously prove the injuries and 13 surgeries that followed. I really didn’t care at the time, but now I’m trying to focus my career on teaching and want this undeserved reputation to stop!
Alasdair Taylor's Answer
An untrue allegation that you lied about having a disability would very likely carry a defamatory imputation, so maybe you have a case. However, that doesn’t mean you should issue libel proceedings. A defamatory imputation is only one of the things needed to construct a claim. Eg you also need to show serious harm (s1(1) Defamation Act 2013). There are lots of factors affecting whether you should pursue legal proceedings, and the only way to be sure is to consult an appropriately experienced lawyer.
