Did my previous employer slander me?

[tsh5]

What is the name of your state? Oregon

I am an apartment manager and was working for a complex that was not exactly working with in the "laws" and when I began to question their practices and refuse to do the things that they wanted me to do there was an exchange of letter back and forth between the owner, my manager and myself. One of which stated that if the owner wished I would resign if he would like me to. That was a while ago. Later I recieve a letter stating that he accepted my resignation (which I never gave) and promply gave me a 30 day no cause to vacate my residence. That unfourtunately is legal in Oregon. When I went to get another managing position my previous manager when called for a reference, proceede to disclose a lot of personal information such as the fact that I am bipolar and that they better hope that I take my medication and tried to tell them that my husband did drugs and many other personal things that had absolutly nothing to do with employment. I did end up getting the job so I can's say that I was directly harmed financially by the statements that she made but the person that she told them to at the new office has now told some of my new tenant and it has now damaged my reputation. Do I have a case against her. She has already stated that she is not even giving me back my $600 deposit from my apartment. I know their practice is to make up things to take up the amount of the deposit so that the tenant have nothing coming back. What do I do?

 

[gryndor]

When I went to get another managing position my previous manager when called for a reference, proceede to disclose a lot of personal information such as the fact that I am bipolar and that they better hope that I take my medication and tried to tell them that my husband did drugs and many other personal things that had absolutly nothing to do with employment. I did end up getting the job so I can's say that I was directly harmed financially by the statements that she made but the person that she told them to at the new office has now told some of my new tenant and it has now damaged my reputation.

General rule of thumb: If it's true, then it isn't slander. If it isn't true and they're passing it off as the truth, then you have to decide if it's worth potentially thoudands of dollars persuing in the legal system.

Another thought: As far as damaging your reputation at the new apartment complex, unless you have provable, documented damages, you will be unlikely to suceed in a courtroom setting.

As far as your deposit: I would start by looking up the Oregon L/T laws.

My post is up for review... This was just info that I have gleaned from similar situations.

Good luck to you, at least you got the job anyway!

 

[cbg]

IAAL can correct me if I'm mistaken, but in this case since you got the job I don't think you can claim slander. You did not suffer damages due to what she said; you didn't lose the job.