If i write a non fiction novel that mostly included someone and their mental issues but i change the names to protect them... can i still get sued?

we dont speak..

Still. Ask permission. Either that or change the story enough that it becomes unrecognisable, but then it wouldn't be non-fiction.

@RoboChloe: i'm changing names of course. my name wont even be in it. because theres some hurtful scenes in it

If they can recognise it as their story, and you didn't ask permission, you could have problems. Seriously, ASK.

@RoboChloe: sigh. i have no way of getting in touch with them. thats the hard part.

No social media? No relatives or friends with social media or a public email address?

@RoboChloe: no his family doesnt like me because i'm black... and it ended badly to where his probation officer had to get in to it. so theres definately no way for me to even ask... however the story line is going to be very good.

That's a tricky situation.

@RoboChloe: i agree. i could really write a series about it.