§ 6.4.5 SPECIAL DEFAMATION PROBLEMS IN EMPLOYMENT LAW

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

§ 6.4.5 Special Defamation Problems in Employment Law. A number of issues that have particular applicability to employment law, and are often raised in defamation cases, are discussed below.

In the employment context, there are numerous ways in which defamation claims can arise. For example, a co-employee may make accusations to the employer about the conduct of another employee and then be sued for defamation.¹⁰⁵ A defamation suit might also be based on statements by third persons to an employer about the conduct of an employee.¹⁰⁶ A terminated employee might also sue the supervisor who terminated him for defamation.¹⁰⁷ An employer and co-employee have also been sued for complaints of sexual harassment made by the employee to the...