Legal Question in Employment Law in California

Teacher slandered after perceived relationship with student; Media involved

I was fired for having an

inappropriate relationship with an 18

year old student. Although my

actions were questionable, I was

never physical with her. After I was

terminated,

the student left with me (it was a

private boarding school). What

resulted over the next day was a

series of accusations aimed at

bringing the girl �back.� The student�s

mother, living out of state, became

involved, calling the local media and

with the help of the school, got the

authorities involved. Convinced that

her daughter was kidnapped, she

went so far as to call me a �predator�

on TV. The school�s staff also told lies

to the authorities in hopes of getting

their student back. They said that

although the student was

physically18, she had the mental

capacity of a 13 year old, further

implying that I was a predator. The

school�s staff was in constant

communication with the student the

entire time, disproving that she was

being held against her will. We met

with authorities to prove this, and

she talked to a mental health

professional to clarify her mental

state. I am not questioning my

firing, but do I have a case against

them for defamation?

1 Answer from Attorneys

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