California  |  Personal Injury

Re: Is the Company or VP liable for defamation?

Defamation involves false statements of fact. Except in unusual circumstances, statements of opinion don't qualify. Your question suggests that the email from your former company expressed negative opinions of you but did not make any false factual claims. It is unlikely that such a statement could be defamatory.

Even if the email theoretically could have been defamatory, there is no reason to think it actually was. Another element of defamation is that the statement harm the plaintiff's reputation. It seems the only person who read it other than yourself (a statement to you can't be defamatory because it can't harm your reputation) does not believe what it said.

I agree with Mr. Stein that your best course of action is probably to ignore the email, at least for now.

Re: Is the Company or VP liable for defamation?

Do not respond to your employer. Take the high road and the client will appreciate it. In the meantime, you may have a defamation case, but you don't have any damages since the client is sticking with you.