Former employer sour grapes

[Kullee]

What is the name of your state?CA

My wife works in a hair salon. They just hired a manicurist as an independent contractor. Her former employer (where she worked just after graduation from school as an employee) is calling her clients (that are attempting to follow her to her new location) and telling them she was fired for theft. When asked by the customers she is vague about the actual facts of the claim. The new contractor says this is absolutely false. What are her options in the areas of slander or libel?

 

[Beth3]

The manicurist needs to see an attorney. It's possible she may have a claim for defamation and/or tortious inteference but that will depend upon the exact circumstances as to what the employer said and did, assuming the manicurist is the one telling the truth.

(P.S. Libel only applies to written statements.)