Legal Question in Business Law in California

"False" means something like "he stole a million dollars' when you didn't. It is not false to say they thought you were a lousy lazy employee That is an opinion. To sue, you have to have provable 'false' statements, that caused you provable financial damage. Proof is hard to come by. Your speculation is not proof. It requires credible and legally admissible documents of witness testimony.

Mr. Nelson is right. In addition, there are privileges with sometimes block lawsuits based upon statements that might otherwise be actionable. You should discuss your situation in detail with a local attorney to find out whether any of your rights were violated and whether you have a potential claim.