How do you know if you're in danger of being sued?

Following on from the recent Burzynski stuff, had I actually received* the emails that @lecanardnoir and @rhysmorgan have had recently I'd have initially been a bit anxious.

Probably after a while I'd have noticed the language wasn't quite right and that some things didn't add up but I suspect my first reaction would have been rising panic. I startle easy ;)

• What to do? How do you know if someone sending you these emails is a credible threat and how should you respond (both in any actions you take and in your reply)?
• Can anyone make a citizen's 'cease and desist' or must it come from a competent lawyer? Not everyone is allowed to prescribe medicine, for example.
• Even if it's clear that the email is not from a lawyer what should you do?
• Is there a defined procedure in place? For example can someone just sue me anyway or must they first tell me what they don't like and give me an opportunity to make amends?
• Is there some 'guidance for dummies and skeptics'?

*well I might have done had Marc spelled my email address correctly!

#skepticmedia #singhBCA Simon Singh and BCA: audio/visual media roundup

Listening just now to #ScienceOnTrial (not available for Listen Again, for shame - EDIT: it appears that the audio is available over at YouTube in three parts, starting with Part One) I thought that a "page per case" might be in order, with a page listing available audio or video media relating to skeptical matters, pertinently #libelreform but other things too. I was helped in finding a couple of mp3 targets by the cache of this blog (the original blog seems to have gone, but that may be a consquence of WordPress pruning anything today that it finds alarming: http://godknowswhat.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/simon-singh-case-response-roundup/
cached version: http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:bYq2TzuI4-oJ:godknowswhat.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/simon-singh-case-response-roundup/+podcast+%22simon+singh%22+BCA&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk

This isn't going to be comprehensive, it's just me trawling Google for various permutations of words like "Simon Singh" BCA "listen again" listen mp3 podcast. I am happy for anyone to take the text below and magically turn it into a wiki sort of thing to which the skeptic posse can contribute and we can build up a resource of skeptic media er.. resources. Yes I'm afraid I do get these enthusiasms every now and again...

Bit in orange - now done: SkepticMedia.wikispaces.com

I've not listened to all of these.

Interview with Simon Singh
Little Atoms
early May 2009
http://www.littleatoms.com/sounds/simonsingh2.mp3

Libel, science, and the polypill
BMJ podcast
22 May 09
http://podcasts.bmj.com/bmj/2009/05/22/libel-science-and-the-polypill/
Includes section in which "Deborah Cohen talks to Simon Singh about the libel action against him, and what it means for science journalism".

Interview with Simon Singh
Skeptic's Guide to the Universe
3 June 2009
http://cdn1.libsyn.com/skepticsguide/skepticast2009-06-03.mp3
(Simon's interview is about halfway through)

Simon Singh: exclusive interview
Nature podcast extra
29 June 2009
http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/index-singh-2009-06-29.html

Podcast #80 - Simon Singh
American Freethought
8 February 2010
http://www.americanfreethought.com/wordpress/2010/02/08/podcast-80-simon-singh/

Simon Singh, Libel Reform, Joanne Cash and Twitter Outrage
House of Comments
17 February 2010
http://houseofcomments.com/2010/02/14-simon-singh-libel-reform-joanne-cash-and-twitter-outrage/
Allen Green, who blogs as @JackOfKent, discusses the history and significance of the #singhBCA case as it relates to current libel law in England and Wales.