I came across this question today <https://interpersonal.stackexchange.com/questions/23296/i-was-mistakenly-identified-as-a-criminal-and-this-has-caused-rumors-how-can-i> and I think OP is taking the issue way too lightly.

What kind of recourse can OP pursue to swiftly clear their name? Do they have a strong case for egregious defamation?

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Full story below in case the IPS link goes bad in the future:

> 
> A while ago, I was at a popular, busy local nightclub (this is in the Unites States) and ran into a friend of a friend. Let's call her Anne. After a bit of conversation with Anne, and mutual name-dropping of our overlapping social networks, a bouncer approached me and said that he was asked to escort me off the premises. I had no idea why, and the bouncer said he did not know either, only that I had to leave immediately. I know enough not to argue when the door staff have made up their mind, so I agreed to leave without complaint.
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> I assumed it was because maybe I looked a little intoxicated-- I wasn't really, I had 2.5 drinks over 2 hours-- and thought nothing more of it.
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> A week later, a different friend contacted me and informed me that I had been 86'd from the club because I am a "known sex offender." After I had been escorted out, the bouncer had told Anne this. Anne, by the way, volunteers as a rape counselor and is a strong and feminist advocate for social justice. Over the past week she had defriended me on social networks and starting contacting our mutual friends to inform them of this "fact" out of concern. Because I am defriended I cannot see what she is saying about me nor can I respond. I only heard about this from a friend of a friend of a friend.
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> This is a clear case of mistaken identity. I hadn't been in that club in more than five years, so there was no way I was a person that would have been known to them. I have done a search of the local sex offenders registry and I am not in it. I have never been arrested, let alone indicted of a crime.
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> I am obviously devastated by this and very depressed. I am not sure what to do about it. My friend suggested I go back to the club and confront the manager, but my feeling is that in a situation like that the manager has to side with their employees.
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> I considered reaching out directly to Anne, but my gut tells me, given the situation, that she would interpret this as a form of intimidation and it would simply make things worse.
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> What can I do to fix this situation? My goal is to quash the rumors and cleanse my reputation in my social circle.
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