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# Not to be taken lightly
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/not-to-be-taken-lightly/
- Published: 2002-11-25T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:00:08.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Venice, #archive-import

Two $5,000 slander lawsuits were denied in small claims court last week when the plaintiff failed to prove damages.

Tony Dahlin of Los Angeles sued his ex-wife Theresa Dahlin and her employer, St. Marks Catholic School in Venice, saying his ex-wife told people he was a cocaine addict, child molester and a drunk. “(She’s) been spreading stories all around town,” the man told Commissioner Donna Groman Wednesday.

The commissioner didn’t take long to reach a judgment. She denied both $5,000 claims without hearing from the defendants, indicating later that in order to find someone guilty of slander, the plaintiff must first prove damages.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 25, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112502.pdf?ref=smdp.com)