Legal Question in Employment Law in New Jersey
Possible Slander?
A company VP has access to employee emails. This VP reads a private email from an employee to his wife. VP and rest of company staff now joke and make fun of employee behind his back. Employee is treated like a complete outcast and hasn't known why for months. Employee found out through the grapevine what had occurred. Needless to say, employee has no idea what the email even said to his wife or have any proof of occurance except from what the ''leak'' in the company said. Can anything be done?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Possible Slander?
The employee has a potential cause of action for invasion of privacy. Although the company VP may read private emails on the company system, he may have breached a duty of privacy to the employee when he disclosed the information contained in the email to persons who had no legitimate interest in its content.
The problem with this dispute will be proof. To prevail in a suit, the employee will have to show what was disclosed and proof that the disclosure caused damage. It may not be easy to find witnesses who will testify.
See also: http://info.corbettlaw.net/lawguru.htm
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