Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Illinois

I was written up at work this week after the owner of my company received an anonymous letter about me. I had sent an email to a small group of co workers advising them they may want to check out a specific website because a friend had warned me about it. This website contained a lot of personal information on my family including an arieal view of my home and my youngest son's cell phone number. At no time did I attempt to view information on co workers-simply meaning to look out for them passed the information on to them with directions on how to get their personal information off the site. This letter complained I was in violation of corp email policy...fine. But went further to say I spend all day on the internet finding things like this to pass along and that I looked everyone in the office up. Also that they had received many similar emails from me and that they had no idea how I got any work done at all. I am 99.99% sure who has done this to me. When I was written up they refused to let me have a copy of the letter of accusation or even read it. I was allowed to read it only after my boss who was extremely mad about the false accusations let me see it. This has created a hostile work environment for me because I am afraid to leave my desk for fear further actions and lies will be spread about me and further action will be taken against me. I have nearly top in performance in my job and though I did send the email had no malicious intent. Can I demand a written copy of the letter? Can I sue against libel when they find out who did this-if it happens. we have a right to face our accuser and this letter is the accuser. Please do not sell my email address I do not want a ton of spam just really need some help. I fear this will affect my year end compensation and future advancement.


Asked on 4/10/10, 2:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Moens Moens Law Offices, Chartered

You only have the "right to face your accuser" in a criminal trial pursuant to the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution:

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district where in the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

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Answered on 4/16/10, 6:04 am


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