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Defamation/Character Assassination

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sarahlee1

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? MA

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What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

I have worked as an on-air radio broadcaster, as a news anchor and reporter, for 15 years. At the last station I worked at, I did have contract, which said if I broke it, I would not be able to work on-air at a radio station in the same market for the duration of the contract - which is an additional year. This isn't the problem, though. The general manager of the station had a very cozy relationship w/a subordinate, so cozy that a majority of people responded negatively about the twosome in an annual management survey and members of the corporate office actually held a meeting to say that the two 'weren't sleeping together'. The female subordinate got a promotion she wasn't qualified for, and more and more bonuses, until New years eve, when she and the rest of her staff were given an extra day off. No paperwork, no vacation time available, nothing - just a "gimme" day. When I asked the manager why, he lied and said they all had the time coming to them for earned vacation days. I made a complaint to the corporate HQ, saying this was the type of favortism that was causing problems. Then a scheduled pay raise for me failed to materialize and I ended up quitting. I applied for ajob at a tv station and the owner forwarded me an email from my boss -the email I sent when I quit, with the comments my co-worker had added reading, 'can you believe this ****ing psycho bitch?' I didn't get the TV job. Another former co-worker is suing the company and the general manager for age discrimination and wrongful termination. What should I do? I didn't get the job I applied for because my former coworkers made me out to be crazy and unstable, all because I quit when I realized I had no future with this company.
 


quincy

Senior Member
I am going to assume that English grammar and writing skills were not necessary in your former positions as a radio broadcaster and news anchor?

The email your former employer sent to the TV station, although certainly not flattering and certainly not very nice, was an opinion, hyperbole, and perfectly legal. I do not see that you have any legal recourse here. The radio station did not have to give you a good reference, and the TV station did not have to hire you.

You should find someone at the radio station who will give you a good reference. You should use that person as a reference on any future job applications. Also, when asked why you left the station, be careful what you say. Saying that you saw no future with the company is fine. Saying you left because the general manager had a cozy relationship with a co-worker - not so fine.

And when filling in applications, be sure to use a dictionary. Your misspellings and poor grammar, especially for someone looking for employment in a communications field, may lose you more jobs than being called a "psycho bitch" will.
 
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Hot Topic

Senior Member
Sue your former co-workers. Prove that a majority of employees responded to the GM and the subordinate negatively in the survey for personal instead of business reasons. Prove there was a meeting in which it was announced that the two weren't sleeping together. Prove the subordinate got a promotion she wasn't qualified for. Prove she and her staff weren't entitled to earned vacation days.

The situation involving the co-worker sueing for alleged age discrimination and wrongful termination is irrelevant to your situation.

Did you apply for a job with another television station in violation of your contract? On the surface, it appears that you did. I suspect you wouldn't have mentioned the contract issue if it didn't have some relevance.

Favoring one person over another may be unethical, but I don't see it being a violation of any law that I've seen mentioned on any of these forums thus far. And I don't see anyone backing up your claims at the risk of their own positions.
 

sarahlee1

Junior Member
Not quite the way it happened

The email I sent after I quit, said that it was unfortunate what had occurred and that I believed it was best for all of us if I chose to move on. There was absolutely nothing in the email that would have provoked the reaction of my coworker - who was actually in a position of power, as the lead member of a 3 person morning team. I didn't get the job because the owner of the TV stationed had been slandered by the morning show, who hired a reporter that the owner had fired to take my job. My contract is irrelevant to tv employment, as it applies only to radio in a particular market.
And, the tv station owner told me that he would hesitate to hire someone after he'd heard something negative about them -referring to his former reporter. For 3 years I had to sit in a studio with two grown men who were literally calling up porn sites like 'the hun' and god knows what else. It was a boys club I had to be a part of for the sake of the show. And when I said I was quitting the show, I was told by two co-workers that the "show" was the only thing that mattered. I disagreed, quit and went from 3 years of outstanding employee that can't be replaced to 'a ****ing psycho bitch" overnight. All of the records and yearly management surveys can be called into court. They clearly show a pattern of in appropriate behavior, allegations and concerns that went unanswered.
 

sarahlee1

Junior Member
Here is my issue

What, exactly do I file suit for? Defamation of character, hostile work environment, all of the above? The attorney who is handling my former boss's age discrimination and wrongful termination suit says he's happy to take mine too. Should I get a separate attorney, or if I use this guy, he's already going to have the majority of the documentation we'll be requesting -like the management surveys and much more. But what do I say is the basis of my case - or will I just sit down with the lawyer like this and spell it all out, along with all of my emails, notes, etc,
 

quincy

Senior Member
If you have contacted an attorney, I would ask him what you think you should sue over. If he has all the documentation, it might save you money to stick with the same attorney.

I, personally, from what you have posted, do not see a defamation action here you could win.
 

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