Slander- now what?

[DarrenX]

Summary at the bottom

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My GF and I own a salon & day spa; we've been open for 2 years. We hired a head stylist about 15 months ago that we advertised for, built up and eventually got her a nice client base. She left this past Saturday with no notice. All she did was leave a message on my GF's cell phone while she was at the salon, knowing full well she doesn't answer it when she's there. It stated she had found an opportunity to go out on her own and couldn't pass it up.

Through the grapevine we find out she's renting a chair at a salon suite a couple miles down the street from us, basically becoming an independant contractor. Based on the deal she's getting, I don't blame her a bit. The fact that she packed her things and snuck out of the salon without saying a word or giving notice is classless, but well within the law.

However, she made the mistake of calling one of her clients, which happens to be a good friend of my GF's. Our former head stylist told her she left because 'it was a hostile work environment' and it wasn't healthy for her to stay. Additionally, she said she's tried to call my GF several times to discuss, but she's never returned her calls (which is complete BS- she left the initial message; my GF tried several times to talk to her, and SHE never picked up/returned calls).

I suppose the first statement, while we believe is the furthest thing from the truth, is subject to opinion, and can't be proved or disproved. The fact that she's lying saying we won't discuss things or return her calls is absolutely false. And obviously if she's telling this to a friend of my GF's, she's telling this to all of her clients.

Anyone familiar with slander? I read the wikipedia info, but I'm looking to see how difficult it is to prove, and what actions can be taken.

For now, we've decided to take the high road and say "she's no longer here and will be missed", but perhaps there's a better way to do it. Thoughts?

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Summary- former employee is slandering our salon. Now what?

[miajag]

Call a lawyer ffs. The advice you get here will be terrible.

[JasonK]

Have her murdered.

[mason55]

i would suggest burning the other salon to the ground

[miajag]

Scratch my first post, great advice so far. Forget what I said.

[Moorsie]

Why not just confront her via the phone or in person? Mention you heard through the grapevine that she has been slandering your company. Ask her to stop or you will be forced to take legal action. She will probably deny saying anything but she will also probably stop slandering your company out of fear.

Wish her well in her new job and close out this chapter.

[El Diablo]

DX,

Pics, please.

[BCPVP]

***NOT A LAWYER***
Based on my one law class in high school 5 years ago and my one law class in college 1 year ago, I'd say that it might be difficult to show damages unless you can show that she's been calling other clients of yours who've then decided to stop being clients with you. It might also be hard to show that she is in fact lying about the who-called-who stuff unless you have phone records of that stuff. And ultimately, what are you going to do if you can show she is slandering your? Squeeze her for money she probably won't have? Is it worth the time, effort, and $$$ that it's going to cost you to go ahead with this?

Again, NOT A LAWYER! Do whatever you want.

[RayPowers]

Knock her out then shave her head bald.

Ray

[traz]

Fight fire with fire. Tell everyone she has crabs