If you accuse a previous employer of defamation, the previous employer will not take your claim seriously unless you hire an employment lawyer who specializes in handling workplace defamation cases. Partnering with an experienced defamation in the workplace attorney helps you in several ways.
Collect and Organize Evidence
Defamation of character cases at work represent one of the most difficult civil cases to win, especially if most or all of the evidence is based on witness accounts. Working with one of the highly-rated employment lawyers at Morgan & Morgan helps you gather and organize the evidence you need to support your allegations. Evidence can include a copy of an employment review report, your job performance records, and a written document that details an employer reference.
Your employment attorney interviews witnesses to support your version of events. Witness accounts of your previous employer committing defamation can boost your case if you have enough persuasive evidence to submit during a civil trial.
Negotiate a Settlement
Either before or during a civil trial, both parties have the opportunity to meet and negotiate a settlement. Negotiations frequently take place after the discovery phase of litigation. Both parties exchange evidence and the statements made by witnesses. The employment lawyer you hire from Morgan & Morgan starts negotiations by presenting an offer. From there, the lawyer representing your former employer either accepts the initial offer or presents a counteroffer. Negotiations can include several counteroffers made by both parties until either a settlement is reached or an impasse occurs that leads to the trial phase of the litigation process.
Files Your Lawsuit Before the Deadline
You have a limited amount of time to file a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Referred to as the statute of limitations, the deadline for filing a civil lawsuit typically runs between two and four years. However, the deadline set by your state might be as low as one year or as high as six years. If you fail to file a civil lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations, you can expect the court to dismiss your case. Hiring one of the skilled litigators at Morgan & Morgan ensures you file your civil lawsuit as quickly as possible.
The sooner you file a civil lawsuit against a previous employer that defames you, the sooner you can receive compensation for your financial losses.
Provides Legal Support During the Trial
If negotiations fail to resolve your defamation claim, the employment lawyer from Morgan & Morgan representing you will not hesitate to take your case to trial. The trial process for an employment defamation of character lawsuit can last longer than most other types of civil trials. This is because of the lack of physical evidence that demonstrates a previous employer should be held legally liable for committing one or more acts of defamation.
During a defamation trial, your attorney examines and cross-examines witnesses that include the owner, manager, and/or manager who made the disparaging statements about your professional skills and/or personal character. You can expect to receive advice about how to handle yourself while under oath, as well as prepare for the civil trial by undergoing a mock question and answer session with your employment attorney.