Los Angeles Defamation of Character Lawyer
Damage to your reputation has the power to derail your career, cause stress, and ruin professional relationships. If you have experienced false and harmful comments at work, you may be able to pursue a defamation claim against your employer.
At Levin & Nalbandyan Trial Lawyers, we understand how seriously defamation can affect you both on a personal and professional level. Our employment attorneys are known for successfully handling complicated, high-stakes cases. We are not afraid to see your case all the way through to trial if necessary.
Contact our Los Angeles defamation of character lawyer for help today.
What Is Defamation of Character in Employment?
Defamation of character happens when someone makes a comment or statement about you to others that causes harm to your reputation. In the context of employment, defamation can take two different forms: libel and slander. Both involve communication of untrue statements that hurt a person’s reputation, but they differ in form, and our Los Angeles defamation attorneys could help you understand the difference.
Defamation is considered libel when the statements are written or published. This can be either in print or digital form. People generally consider libel as more harmful than slander because written statements are easily saved or spread. In the workplace, libel can look like:
- Emails or internal communications that contain false accusations
- Performance reviews, including exaggerated negative comments
- Social media posts sharing false information
- Company memos or newsletters containing inaccurate or misleading information
- Official termination letters or other disciplinary records
Slander, on the other hand, involves spoken defamatory statements. Slander at work can include verbal accusations by a supervisor or coworker, gossip or rumors, statements made during meetings, disciplinary hearings, or exit interviews, and negative or misleading references to prospective employers.
Common Examples of Defamation at Work
Not all negative comments constitute defamation. Opinions are generally protected, and certain communications are privileged. Sometimes defamation is overt, and other times it can be difficult to identify without the assistance of our experienced Los Angeles attorneys.
An employer might fabricate reasons for firing you, or a former employer could bring up inaccurate information in a job reference conversation. Fellow workers could spread false information about you that puts you at risk. False accusations of criminal or unethical conduct could seriously damage your professional reputation and career.
How Our Employment Lawyers Advocate for Workers
Our employment attorneys at Levin & Nalbandyan represent Los Angeles clients who have faced defamation with aggressive and strategic advocacy. We are equipped to help you hold your employer accountable.
We typically begin with a thorough investigation, gathering emails, human resources documents, witness statements, and other digital evidence to support the claim. Our team could assess whether what happened qualifies as defamation. Then, we may guide you through negotiation or trial, depending on what best fits your situation.
Our skilled attorneys could help you pursue a variety of legal remedies, such as:
- Lost wages and benefits
- Reduced earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Damage to reputation
- Punitive damages in cases where the defamation was committed with malice or fraud
- Formal retraction or public correction of the false statement
- Injunctive relief
If you are a target of defamation, you could suffer many different consequences, including impacts to your income, mental health, future job prospects, and more.
Reach Out to Our Los Angeles Defamation Attorneys for Help
If your reputation has been damaged in the workplace as a result of defamation, do not wait to seek legal help. Defamation can be difficult to prove, but our Los Angeles defamation of character lawyer could evaluate your case and offer guidance on the best steps to take next.
At Levin & Nalbandyan LLP, we take your concerns seriously and offer aggressive advocacy to protect your interests. Defamation in the workplace can be emotionally distressing and cause reputational harm. Do not let such false statements determine your professional or personal future.
Contact our firm today for an initial consultation to discuss your defamation claim.