Legal Question in Employment Law in Oregon
Defamation of character
Recently I was arrested and acused of theft at our restaurant. Although I was the one that reported the missing money to the owner, the owner and I agreed to keep it quite to see if the safe was missing money. A week follow and $90 came up missing, on a day I was not at work. Never the less, the owner arrainged my arrest at work when I got there. Needless to say it was devastating. The charges were dropped, and to this day I am only suspended...without pay. It has been a month. I can't recieve unemployment, and the owner has not even fired me. What can I do? I am completely broke and my name is unjustly tarnished. How can I move on? Can I get money back for lost wages?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Defamation of character
You present a difficult situation. As the title of your post suggests, you very well might have a defamation cause of action, depending on the circumstances. Why can't you file for unemployment? You certainly don't have work from this employer. Did you receive all the pay that was due to you from the employer before your suspension? If not, you might have some penalty issues to raise. You need the advice of a lawyer regarding the specific facts of your case. If you can't locate a lawyer in Bend, you may want to contact the Oregon State Bar Lawyer Referral Service at 800.452.7636.
The above does not constitute legal opinion and is offered for the
purposes of discussion only. The law differs in every jurisdiction, and
you should not rely on any opinion except that of an attorney you have
retained, who has a professional duty to advise you after being fully
informed of all the pertinent facts and who is familiar with the
applicable law.