Legal Question in Discrimination Law in Virginia
Character Defamation and false accusations in the workplace
My former employer called me into her office Monday night and accused me of accepting ''bad'' checks and of having HIV and that I was on drugs. Another employee had also cashed a check for the same customer (which also was returned for insuffesicent funds) but I was the only person fired. On top of that, I was accused of having HIV and being on drugs. I live in a small community and something like this could cost me my reputation and hinder any job search I attempt. Could you direct me in any legal advice you have?
Thank you
Sincerely
Cynthia Ellis
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Character Defamation and false accusations in the workplace
If the particular defamation here alleged was "published", meaning communicated to a third party that you have a loathsome disease and that such allegation is false, that is what the law usually considers as libel/slander per se and should consequently be actionable for presumed damages against the perpetrator (without your having to prove as to how you were actually damaged).