[Avodah] Cause of action?

[David Riceman]

Zev Sero (citing a friend) :
> Assume A has a claim against B. B believes the claim is invalid.
>> A doesn’t sue B, but rather keeps threatening B that he will sue,
>> and that he will tell people about it and cost B his reputation.
>>
> RZS:
> Given the same facts, what cause of action would B have in court?
> If A actually does tell people about it, then B has a cause of
> action for defamation, but if he only threatens to do so, what
> recourse do *you* think he should have?
It's not clear to me that defamation requires the presence of a third 
party.  See HM 420:38, SMA ad. loc. SK 49, and see Tshuvoth Havoth Yair 
#62, especially the final paragraph.

David Riceman