If I was a state witness in a murder trial and a newspaper article was released with my name, can I sue the court for releasing my information to the press?

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If I was a state witness in a murder trial and a newspaper article was released with my name, can I sue the court for releasing my information to the press?

I’m worried someone will try to retaliate.

Asked on July 30, 2015 under Personal Injury, Indiana

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

No, you cannot sue, unless there was a court order in place specifically barring them from releasing that information--in that case, they may be liable due to the breach of the court order, but it is still unclear, however, what you could sue for, since the law does not provide compensation for speculative or possible injury, such as the risk or possibility of retaliation, but only for actual injuries, costs, or losses...if, as we hope, nothing happens to you, there would be nothing to sue for.

And, as indicated above, if there was no court order barring release of your information, it may be published, since court proceedings are public, and what happens in a public proceeding may be disclosed or published.


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