Legal Question in Employment Law in Ohio

Your question asks, I believe, in legal terms, whether a former employer who provides information to a prospective employer is liable for defamation. If the information is true, the answer is no, the former employer will not be liable for defamation. If the information is false, the answer is a bit more complicated, since an employer has a limited defense to defamation claims arising out of reference checks. Here is an article that provides a full answer:

http://www.myemploymentlawyer.com/wiki/Defamation-by-an-Employer.htm