Slander-Had it up to here*****

[Bhood]

I live in Indiana in a relatively small town. I worked in a small business for a year and a half, where I was the owners assistant. In the beginning the business was doing o.k. but little by little the owner kept making promises to his customers that he could not keep. Business dropped and his parents even brought in two high dollar consulting firms to try to put the business back on track.
The owner would not listen and continued to run his business in the ground. Every week things got continually worse. He was lying to everyone. Payroll could not be meet and he would continually give all of his employee's checks that would bounce. Finally I could not take the stress anymore and I told him that Friday would be my last day. That was over 6 months ago. I had to go to the prosecutor to get my last paycheck that i received from him personally and he still owes me for my last two weeks of work.
He has gone all over town and told people that he fired me and his business is failing because I embezziled money from him, he even gives an amount of over 65,000.00. Besides working, I am half owner of a business in the town that I live in. Everywhere I go poeple are telling me or my partner all the things that he has said and its getting really old. I have tried to find another job but feel that it is fruitless where I live. Even if I don't put him on my resume' people still know that I worked there. I also feel that his comments have affected my partners and my business. Any suggestions on a course of action.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

My response:

Well, what would you like to do ?

IAAL

 

[Bhood]

Ok, What Now from Indiana

I guess what I am trying to understand, "Is do I have a case for slander?" In the beginning when I first found out about the statements he was making I called my lawyer and asked if I had grounds for a suit. He told me that unless I was refused a job and there was a stated salary, that I would not have an amount to sue for.
Like I said though I feel that this is hurting my business that I own. I understand that there are things that have to be proved as far as for making a case. Do I have these necessary grounds. Well he is accusing me of committing a crime. (embezzlement) He is doing it with malice. (He has destroyed his own business and now wants to make it look like someone esle did it for him. He has told people in person and over the phone that I ruined his business. Just recently a person that I do business with said that they called in January there to get a hold of me and was told that I was fired and that I embezzeled money from the company. This man is out to destroy my reputation. Can I file suit for damages, and let the jury decide the amount. If nothing else I would like a public apology. I thought about placing an ad in our local paper that would read: Public Notice- I, Barbara Hood resigned my position with **** on October 12, 2000. I was not fired from my position nor did I committ the crime that my past employer is making reference to. I performed my job to the best of my ability and resigned due to stress and what I thought was unethical requests. I am asking that my past employer cease in making these slanderous statements. In the event that this continues, I will have no other choice than to seek damages in a legal court of law for the defamation of my character and my last two weeks wages. Thank You

 

[Taxguy]

>>, I will have no other choice than to seek damages in a legal court of law for the defamation of my character and my last two weeks wages. <<

Sue him for Defamation.