What should I do legally to restore my reputation at work after someone spread lies about me?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What should I do legally to restore my reputation at work after someone spread lies about me?

I work in a restaurant, and one of my bartenders is telling other coworkers that I stole another server’s tip off of a table. I was closing the restaurant, and a server came to me complaining about getting no tip on a credit card payment from a table of three guys. The guys had been sitting there a while after paying, and the server wanted to leave. So, since I had to stay anyway, I told her I would clean the table after they left, and if they left a cash tip, I would put it in the office for her. The server left, the guys left, and I cleaned the table. There was no money left on the table. I brought my checkout, paperwork from the evening’s sales, to the bartender and started chit chatting about the evening. I told her about the server being stiffed on the three top, and she started staring at me. I stared back. It was pretty weird. Now she’s telling people I stole a tip off the table.

Asked on March 5, 2016 under Employment Labor Law, Nebraska

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

All you can do is tell the person spreading rumors that if they continue, you will sue them for defamation. Defamation is when someone makes an untrue statement of fact which damages your reputation--such as a false claim that committed theft. If the person does not desist, you could follow through and sue them. You might not be able yo get much money, unless you can show some monetary loss (like loss of a job, if you get fired), but you could possibly get vindication.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption