Is this a valid Slander case?

[whithang]

CALIFORNIA - I work for a publicly traded company which is going through layoffs. We had been made aware of the upcoming layoffs but no individual knew who was being let go yet. The night before the announcements about layoffs, the company threw a party. The next day, the president of the company held a meeting with executive level empoyees to communicate the message they would pass on to all empolyees throughout the day of layoffs. At this meeting, he publicly announced that I was making out with someone at our office slammed up against a wall. This was not me. It was another woman who has my hair color but otherwise looks nothing like me. This information was spread throughout the day by executives as a rumor to individuals through the layoff meetings. I found out about it when the director of my division made a comment and a face at me and my co-workers informed me of the rumor. When I had my layoff meeting, I was asked to stay for 9 more months or receive no severance. The rumor is spread throughout our entire office now and one week later is still coming up. Do I have a case? What I would like is to just request the package I was offered to leave in 9 months to leave now as I feel my reputation has been ruined.

 

[Zigner]

What are your (economic) damages?
Even if this were a valid slander case, you would only be able to recover said damages, which seem to be -0-

 

[whithang]

Question on Damages

Well damages are part of my question for this case. I don't know what that would be. Basically I feel that the slander has made my work environment difficult and stressful which leads me to not productively work there anymore. However, they are asking me to stay for 9 more months before collecting severance pay and work under executives who now think of me as some slut. Could actual damages be considered the lost severance pay and other salary from now through the 9 months? Couldn't punitive damages also be asked for?

 

[shannon-cl]

I don't know your financial situation. I can tell you that the best thing to do is leave now, preserve your dignity and move on. A Legal action in this situation may prove to be very difficult for you right now. maybe it is time to put this aside and move on. the longer you stay the worse it will get. It seems in a way that they are trying to drive you out anyway.

 

[whithang]

Case?

from everything i'm reading online, it sounds like i definitely have a case. why would you suggest i just leave? isn't the point of this to collect damages or at least threaten that in order to get my severance pay? as a publicly traded company, i want to know whether or not they will see this as a valid case and decide to settle. i don't think they want to go to court either.

 

[fairisfair]

from everything i'm reading online, it sounds like i definitely have a case. why would you suggest i just leave? isn't the point of this to collect damages or at least threaten that in order to get my severance pay? as a publicly traded company, i want to know whether or not they will see this as a valid case and decide to settle. i don't think they want to go to court either.

Saying that he saw you kissing someone is hardly the same thing as calling you a slut. Or promoting your slutiness to be factual. You are really stretching here. And you have no damages, the idea that others may think less of you is not recompensable. Seriously, it sounds like you are looking for a way out of your present work situation, and a way to still get paid at the same time. There is lots of information on the forum regarding slander/libel, use your search function.

 

[moburkes]

from everything i'm reading online, it sounds like i definitely have a case. why would you suggest i just leave? isn't the point of this to collect damages or at least threaten that in order to get my severance pay? as a publicly traded company, i want to know whether or not they will see this as a valid case and decide to settle. i don't think they want to go to court either.

Since everything online is telling you that you have a case, then you should be at your attorney's office, instead of here, right?