Legal Question in Employment Law in Florida

Wrongfully accused, termination, slander, emotional destress

Basically, I would like to know my right as far as being wrongfully accused of aiding and abetting a former manager at the place where I was employed. I worked in the Accounting Payable dept.for 10 1/2 yrs, and this manager was forging his bosses signature. I was on FMLA/short term disability due to pregnancy, and was brought in for interrogation. I was falsly accused of being paid off to produce checks for this manager, without any proof of doing so. I was then put on paid admin. leave and two weeks later terminated for Neglegence to my job. I am emotionally distraught over this, as I have a 2 month old and no money, single parent, with NO insurance, and wrongfully accused. Is there anyway to sue the company for false accusation, slander, emotional distress? I have been told otherwise, that we do not have a case against them, as they had every right to investigate. Fine, but did they have the right to accuse us (my boss and I) of taking money as a favor to this manager, without evidence? My boss was also let go, and has 3 children. I dho hope you can lend some insight into this for us...We are at a loss.

Thank you


Asked on 10/03/01, 9:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Frank Shooster Shooster Kahn & Kleinman, P.A.

Re: Wrongfully accused, termination, slander, emotional destress

ALthough employers are protected from suit by accusations they make to you alone, they can be sued if they repeat those accusations to third persons, such as a prospective employer, if you can show that they acted maliciously. There's a 2 year statute of limitations, that runs from the date of the slander, whether or not you only learn about it later. There are companies which can call and ask for a reference to see if the employer is trying to prevent you from getting another job. If the employer is merely accusing you of negligence, that may not give rise to a slaander claim, but it also prevents them from contesting your right to unemployment benefits. Good luck.

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Answered on 11/21/01, 2:07 pm


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