Do I have a case of slander?

[j.j.5]

What is the name of your state? Maine
My daughters fathers sister called my government job and said I was a rude cashier and proceeded to ask my store administrator if she new what kind of employees she had working for her, she continued to say she did a backround check on me and I was arrested for drugs, again let me remind you this is my GOVERNMENT job. And it didnt stop there. I have never been arrested for drugs, nor am I cashier, she said alot of comments that made me think this was a false complaint, she made the mistake of hesitantly leaving her phone number and I was able to do some investigating and thats how I found out it was her. I am currently in a custody battle and that is the only reason I can think of someone would call and make these accusations. I do not talk to his family nor have i in 5 years, so there was no provoking for this on my part. My store administrator came to me with this complaint and from there I had to explain none of this was true. I have alot of stress with my custody stuff for someone to try to make me loose my job being a single mother and smearing my good name to my managers is even more stressful, childish and immiture. I can not believe grown adults stoop to this level. Is this a valid case of slander that I should be persuing?

 

[quincy]

Get a copy of the complaint, or have your store administrator write out what was said in the complaint and have him sign it. Be sure the complaint includes the phone number given when the complaint was filed.

If you were falsely accused of using and/or being arrested for the use of drugs, this assumes some reputational injury and can be the basis of a defamation claim. Actual injury may include, in addition to this impairment of your reputation, the showing in court of any work-related loss, or personal humiliation, or mental anguish and suffering experienced by you as a result of the false and defamatory complaint made.

Take the information you have and discuss with a lawyer in your area (preferably one familiar with defamation law) the possibilities of bringing a defamation action against your daughter's aunt. The attorney can give you an idea of the costs involved, and let you know whether he/she thinks a court action is worth pursuing.

Good luck.