T
terry27nyc
Guest
What is the name of your state? Georgia
I am a young man and I was the manager of a struggling small business for 5 years owned by an older woman who basically dumped the business in my lap and went off on expensive trips with her husband and paid hardly no attention to it, and certainly did not maintain her control as an owner. She wanted me to take over the business so she could retire, but due to the constant competitive struggle to make it profitable, I decided to change careers entirely and pursue other interests.
While there, I managed everything, the business was practically run as if it were mine. I had a corporate visa for use when I conducted company business, as well as a personal company account for items purchased for personal use. I had charged a few personal gifts to the company visa while on a business trip, and I had a balance in my personal account. There was a balance owed when I decided to leave the company and go to grad school. The owner became angry and bitter at my announcement and accused me of stealing because of my personal financial debts to the business. She claimed to "know nothing" about them and got really nasty. I verbally apologized for any personal impropriety, I apologized for leaving the company and not taking it over like she wanted, I paid the woman $1200, what I honestly owed her, and then left for grad school a few weeks later. She accepted the check and cashed it. Two months after I left, she sold out to another store (my recommendation to her actually).
I returned to this city two years later after grad school and I've been very successful for a full year in this new position. Now, three years later, the other day I heard a rumor that this former employer is calling me an embezzler. She has never filed charges, but this rumor has surfaced twice in the last year. I ignored the first source, but 10 months later, the rumor has popped up again. Should I sue her for slander and defamation of character? This rumor could affect my standing in the community and my present job. I would be horrified if a rumor like this made its way to my current company's ears. I'm terrified that there is an outstanding debt that I missed and did not pay and she could have me arrested. To my knowledge, I added up everything outstanding that I owed. The woman will not speak to me, I have tried to communicate with her. What should I do?
I am a young man and I was the manager of a struggling small business for 5 years owned by an older woman who basically dumped the business in my lap and went off on expensive trips with her husband and paid hardly no attention to it, and certainly did not maintain her control as an owner. She wanted me to take over the business so she could retire, but due to the constant competitive struggle to make it profitable, I decided to change careers entirely and pursue other interests.
While there, I managed everything, the business was practically run as if it were mine. I had a corporate visa for use when I conducted company business, as well as a personal company account for items purchased for personal use. I had charged a few personal gifts to the company visa while on a business trip, and I had a balance in my personal account. There was a balance owed when I decided to leave the company and go to grad school. The owner became angry and bitter at my announcement and accused me of stealing because of my personal financial debts to the business. She claimed to "know nothing" about them and got really nasty. I verbally apologized for any personal impropriety, I apologized for leaving the company and not taking it over like she wanted, I paid the woman $1200, what I honestly owed her, and then left for grad school a few weeks later. She accepted the check and cashed it. Two months after I left, she sold out to another store (my recommendation to her actually).
I returned to this city two years later after grad school and I've been very successful for a full year in this new position. Now, three years later, the other day I heard a rumor that this former employer is calling me an embezzler. She has never filed charges, but this rumor has surfaced twice in the last year. I ignored the first source, but 10 months later, the rumor has popped up again. Should I sue her for slander and defamation of character? This rumor could affect my standing in the community and my present job. I would be horrified if a rumor like this made its way to my current company's ears. I'm terrified that there is an outstanding debt that I missed and did not pay and she could have me arrested. To my knowledge, I added up everything outstanding that I owed. The woman will not speak to me, I have tried to communicate with her. What should I do?