My former employer caused me to lose business contracts. Is there any recourse?

Question by Aimee T: My former employer caused me to lose business contracts. Is there any recourse?
I was working in a small real estate company as administrative help. On my own time and money I became a real estate broker and started my own real estate business performing property valuations. When my employer found out, they fired me. But before doing so, they spoke with vendors I had been working with and told them that I was doing these contracts behind their back, that I was lying, and not to send me any more contracts— all the information that was told to the vendor was false and in the heat of the moment. For background information, the side business was totally legitimate and I never signed any confidentiality agreements or had any contract saying I couldn’t perform my own work on my own time and money. Since these events, I have lost thousands of dollars in contracts and the vendors will not send me any more work. In California, do I have a strong case for defamation and slander?

Best answer:

Answer by maxmom56
Go make an appointment with a lawyer and lay out your case. See if anyone will take it.

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