Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Re: can i sue for defamation

If it's not true, you can sue. If you do, then it's likely your former employer would then cross-complain against you for theft of its information and trade secrets, etc. This is not the kind of thing you should do without an attorney, however.

Re: can i sue for defamation

Mr. Cohen is right that it will be messy and possibly involve a countersuit. But it's either that or knuckle under. Keep careful records and diaries of the potential customers you've lost. The attorney you retain will write them and tell them to stop, and will probably then follow it up with a lawsuit. Watch out for legal time limits. I'd love to see a copy of the letter they've been sending out. Your lawsuit would not only be for defamation but also for tortious interference with business relationships.

Re: can i sue for defamation

Anybody can sue anybody, for anything. Your allegations may justify suit for interference with business, if you can prove what you allege. You will also need to deal with any claims they may make against you for violation of their confidential info and customer lists. If serious about taking action, feel free to contact me to discuss your facts, evidence, etc.