Discussing co-workers felony record at and out of work

[Coleyy]

Jurisdiction

Florida

A co-worker was arrested months ago for 2 separate felonies. One case is resolved one is ongoing. Management is aware. Everything is public record.

From a federal or state law is there any legal wrongdoing for discussing this among a limited amount of co-workers and in doing so is not done in a humiliating or defamatory way? During work, outside of work during a non-work function?

I'm not questioning internal policies here, more so, any statute issues.

Thanks.

 

[Tax Counsel]

A co-worker was arrested months ago for 2 separate felonies. One case is resolved one is ongoing. Management is aware. Everything is public record.

From a federal or state law is there any legal wrongdoing for discussing this among a limited amount of co-workers and in doing so is not done in a humiliating or defamatory way? During work, outside of work during a non-work function?

I'm not questioning internal policies here, more so, any statute issues.

Thanks.

There is no federal or state law that prohibits persons from discussing public events or public records. The First Amendment would protect such speech from government action against the persons talking about it. The court records for these cases are public records and discussion of the alleged crimes and the court actions regarding it are not illegal. Whether you may discuss it at work or a work function is up to the employer, assuming that the employer is not a government agency.

 

[adjusterjack]

is there any legal wrongdoing for discussing this among a limited amount of co-workers and in doing so is not done in a humiliating or defamatory way? During work, outside of work during a non-work function?

How about you just mind your own business?

 

[Coleyy]

How about you just mind your own business?

Been about 8 yrs since ive posted on a law forum...seems the same subjective opinion based responses still exist even to a non-ambiguous specific question.

Thanks to the original respondent for a proper response to said specific questions.

 

[welkin]

A co-worker was arrested months ago for 2 separate felonies. One case is resolved one is ongoing. Management is aware. Everything is public record.

From a federal or state law is there any legal wrongdoing for discussing this among a limited amount of co-workers and in doing so is not done in a humiliating or defamatory way? During work, outside of work during a non-work function?

I'm not questioning internal policies here, more so, any statute issues.

Thanks.

You might want to ask yourself if you would like people gossiping about one of your problems.

Common decency dictates that you should not gossip about people behind their backs.

 

[Foamback]

Been about 8 yrs since ive posted on a law forum...

Welcome to the outside. When did you get out?

 

[justblue]

Welcome to the outside. When did you get out?

 

[Tax Counsel]

Common decency dictates that you should not gossip about people behind their backs.

I recall one of my mother's oft given advice to my sister and me was the old adage "If you have nothing good to say about another, then say nothing at all." It's the same idea. And good advice, for the most part anyway.