Do I have a case to sue if someone defamed my reputation to prospective clients?
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Do I have a case to sue if someone defamed my reputation to prospective clients?
I was employed by a small painting contractor for a month. He would constantly emotionally abuse me and my other co-workers. He fired me multiple times via text, towards the end started spreading lies about me to clients and co-workers. I had a verbal agreement with one client but after everything he told them, they didn’t want me near their home. I have more than 1000 texts from him, including screenshots, that he sent to clients lieing about me.
Asked on November 28, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Oregon
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
You can sue your former employer for defamation. Defamation is a false statement made with knowledge of its falsity communicated to a third party who recognizes the defamatory content and the statement is injurious to your reputation.
Each repetition of the defamatory statement is actionable in a lawsuit for defamation.
Libel is written defamation.
Slander is spoken defamation.
Your damages (monetary compensation you are seeking in your lawsuit) for defamation include emotional distress, loss of friends or associates, lost income from loss of the client you mentioned and if applicable physical illness. You can also seek punitive damages which are a substantial amount to punish your former employer's intentional wrongful actions.
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