Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Michigan

Defamation of character

I had worked for the same company for almost 17 years with great success. I worked hard to have a very good reputation for being an honest, hardworking,ethical person.

About 2 years ago I was asigned a new boss. She began to immediately isolate and undermine me.

Finally she gave me a very poor performance review.

She encouraged me to rebut any info. that I thought was incorrect. She said that we would have a ''reveiw of the review'' in 30 days.

I put together documented proof that 95% of what she said was wrong.

For example, she said that I didnt participate with certain teams. Yet the manager in charge of that team had sent me a thank you for being such a help and the only one to get my stuff in on time. He also said that she had never inquired about me at all during the last year.

Another example is that she said that I didnt turn in any cost savings. I provided documents showing that I had indeed turned in nearly $500k in cost savings.

We never had the ''review of the review''. In fact I never was able to speak to this boss again. She would leave a room whenever I entered. She would not return calls or emails.

6 weeks after this review I was asked to resign. Because of this review. Is this defamation?


Asked on 10/17/05, 4:32 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Stern William Stern, P.C.

Re: Defamation of character

These are extremely difficult cases because even if the supervisor is wrong, there is what is known as a qualified privilege in an employment situation. Chances are there is no case. That is why there is nothing like being your own boss. William S. Stern

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Answered on 10/17/05, 7:22 pm


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