I don't mean to be dramatic but I think I'm being blackmailed by a solicitor?
I can't give too many details so apologies for being brief - a media agency stole my intellectual property and put it behind their paywall (they're a subscription based service). After being completely stonewalled, I instructed a lawyer to help me take them to the small claims court. Agency's lawyer is massively rude in all his correspondence calling me money grabbing and shameless among other things. Here's where he really crosses a line - he says my "shameless and appalling conduct in this matter would make for a very interesting news story which would come with a suitably garish headline (proceeds to invent a disgusting headline about me)". Remember, he's representing a huge media agency so it's entirely possible.
So if I proceed, this solicitor/the company he represents are going to write a smear campaign against me. If I drop the legal action, my (and my business's) reputation will remain undamaged. Surely this crosses a professional conduct line? I've asked my lawyer but I'm still waiting on a reply. I'm terrified; I'm a mum of two who relies solely on the income of my small business and all I've done is try and protect my intellectual property from copyright theft which is my legal right. I'm scared to go ahead with the small claims court action and I'm even too scared to leave the house just incase they've planted a sneaky photographer out there to get pictures for their hit piece article.
Coercion, blackmail, threat - whatever this is - are they allowed to do this?