How to defend myself in a slander case

Hi all,

Please give me tips on how to defend myself in case my officemate pursues his threat to file an oral defamation case against me.

Here's a short background. We had our business travel abroad for 3 months last year (6 of us). During this travel, we had several arguments and oral fights against this one person. Recently, on one occassion, he was the subject of discussion between myself and my close friends. We talked about him and I admit we laughed at him. But this was supposed to be private and Im sure every peer group does this. After few days, I learned that someone told him about that instance and now he wants to file a case against me.

I've read in my research of some possible defense points:
1. The facts were true. I can call a lot of persons who can vouch to the truthfulness of the things that we discussed.
2. The conversation was between myself and my friends and not to anyone.
3. Comments brought out during that discussion were pure opinion and since that was a peer talk, nothing's wrong when everyone gives his or her opinion.

Please provide comments or additional points on how I can defend myself at least on the management level of my company.

thanks

it depends on what was said.

if he doesn't have a witness who was part of that conversation, you can question because he has no personal knowledge of what was said.