Defamation by Former Employer

[syndralove]

First time here, needing advice please. This is a bit long, but in order to understand, I want to make sure that I say everything, and not leave out parts. Please read this and bare with me...
A job that I had been very happily working at for almost 3 years was taken over by new ownership earlier this month due to my boss’s legal problems because he got into troubles with a lot of drugs. Part of the agreement with the new owner was that I would stay working there, he told the new boss that I was his best employee, and the new employer did keep me. I worked very hard to make a good impression on the new boss, and last Wednesday he asked me if I would like to leave the location where I had been for almost 3 years working a M-F 9am-5pm schedule to go work at the other location with W-Sun 9am-5pm hours. I told him later that day that I could not because being a single mom, I have no weekend daycare. He said alright, and that we would talk about it the next day. Well the next day, he told me that since I would not take the position at the other store, that he was terminating my employment. I was very upset, and as I boxed up my belongings, while crying I said that this was something that I didn't need right now. So I left to go home, and a few hours later, police showed up at my door saying that my boss had called them in fear I was going to go home to commit suicide!!! It turns out that a few weeks ago, another employee had gone threw my personal belongings, and found a journal that I had been writing in. It had no mentions of suicide, just talk about being stressed out. He told the boss about it, and they thought I would commit suicide from it all, so the police came and took me by ambulance to the ER for evaluations. A few hours later I was released with it being said that I was no danger to myself or others, and my employer (well, now former) was called and told that I was being released. I went home, and tried to figure out what had happened that day. Everything went so fast, I had to think about what had actually happened.
Later that night, I got a call from a friend who is a regular customer there, and he told me some things that really got me upset. Here are a few of the things that were said that day, and have been said over the past few weeks; When the Dr. called and said that I was being released, my boss had everyone carry an additional sidearm (I was working at a gun range), and were told that if I come to the building, to call the police right away. He also told customers that if they saw me on the property to call 911 because I was dangerous. The employee that found my personal journal gave it to the other employees to read, and they all sat around at a table laughing at what was in it. They even gave it to a customer to read! It was being said that the reason I got along so well with my old boss was because I was sleeping with him, and that him and I did drugs together! They said that the FBI and ATF have been following me around and have video surveillance of me taking my old boss to do drug deals, and they have video of me doing major drug trafficking! And they have been telling not only other employees, but customers that I have major drug charges like possession, trafficking, and dealing on my record! NONE of those are true!!! Also, it has been said that the new boss has been trying to find any little thing out about me so that he could fire me. It is like he has been out to get rid of me since he took over.
The reason I am posting this question here is because I am wondering what has to be said or done on my or the new bosses behalf for me to be able to take him to court for defamation of character? Or does this even qualify for that?The fact that he fired me because I would not go to the other location 20 miles away because I have no daycare is one thing, but the things that have been being said about me are more than hurtful, they are unacceptable. Is there anything I can do? What do I say when I try to get a new job when they ask why I left this job? I'm not sure what to do. Can anyone help me please ASAP??????????????????????

[aaron]

Why did you have a personal journal at work?

If your former employer is making false allegations about you, is presenting the false impression that you are inclined to violence, and is falsely accusing you of criminal activity, you have good foundations for a defamation action.