There are two legal premises for filing defamation lawsuits: libel and slander. Some situations involve both slander and libel and filed as “defamation” lawsuits. If your employer, or former employer tells lies about you, and you are harmed as a result of those lies, you may be able to sue them for defamation.

Defamation of Character:

• Slander and libel are both consider a form of defamation of character.
• Involves someone damaging another person’s reputation; and
• Both libel and slander are based on lies and distortion of actual facts.

Slander

Is a type of defamation that happens when someone speaks falsely about someone else and there are negative consequences suffered by the person who was slandered.

In cases of slander, lies or false statements are spoken aloud or by gesture about someone else and those who heard the false statements react adversely in some way to the slandered party.

Example of Slander: If you use a former employer as a job reference and he/she says tells lies about you such as that you were fired for stealing. As a result of those lies being told, you do not get the new job you are applying for. You may be able to sue your former employer for slander.

Libel

Just like slander, libel must be based on defaming statements made. However, libel is not spoken outloud by one person to another. Instead, libel occurs when false statements are recorded or published.

Examples of Libel: False statements posted on a website, blog, Facebook, sent out via “Tweets,” or otherwise posted on the Internet; or published in a magazine, newspaper, book, or cartoon; broadcast on YouTube, a PodCast, radio program or television show; or even in flyers, brochures, or on a billboard.

Statute of Limitations for Defamation Lawsuits in New Jersey

The statute of limitations to bring legal action against someone for defamation via slander and/or libel in New Jersey is one year.

New Jersey Attorneys for Defamation of Character, Libel, Slander

If you suffered a loss of opportunity for advancement, wages, or lost your job because your employee told lies about you to other employees, or gave bad references containing false information, or made derogatory statements that hurt your employment in any way, we would like to help you.

If you work in New Jersey, contact our employment lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.  We can tell you if you have a case of defamation of character, and what legal rights you have to pursue a claim against an employer.

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