View Full Version : My job blamed me for stealing money, then they found out it wasn't me can I sue?
arod1885
Jan 3, 2011, 03:41 PM
It was my day off and my boss called me to come in to work cause they needed extra help. When I got there the DM told me to talk to him and he said to me that the night I closed the store that the depoist was missing and when he looked at the camera he said that I acted like I put the money in the safe but I didn't. And I swore up and down that I didn't steal any money so he looked into it a little more and found out that the other asst. manager came into the store while it was closed and stole the money! Now I was wondering if I can sue the my job because of this.
excon
Jan 3, 2011, 03:53 PM
Hello a:
There are two parts to any lawsuit... Whether someone did you wrong, and how much it cost you... I think you can prove the employer did you wrong... I just don't think you have any damages.
Now, if you tried to get another job, and you DIDN'T because the new boss HEARD that you're a thief, the wages that you would have earned are your damages...
excon
AK lawyer
Jan 3, 2011, 04:42 PM
...
There are two parts to any lawsuit... Whether someone did you wrong, and how much it cost you... I think you can prove the employer did you wrong... I just don't think you have any damages.
Now, if you tried to get another job, and you DIDN'T because the new boss HEARD that you're a thief, the wages that you would have earned are your damages...
I don't see either of these elements.
It's not clear that the manager actually accused OP (perhaps, I guess. OP says "he said that i acted like i put the money in the safe but i didnt. ".), or in any event without reasonable cause.
OP didn't say he/she was fired. Or lost time.
ScottGem
Jan 3, 2011, 06:28 PM
It sounds to me like there was a PRIVATE conversation where he thought you might have been guilty. Unless it went beyond that private conversation you have no case. Did you even lose your job? That's not clear.
Fr_Chuck
Jan 3, 2011, 08:20 PM
If they did not fire you from your job, merely asked or questioned you ( or accused you) and then found out you did not do it, they is no case to sue,
As long as there is no damage or costs done, they can be stupid bosses all the want
adthern
Jan 3, 2011, 10:22 PM
I agree with the above stated, but would add if any of the managers made statements to others that you had stolen the money, be it other employers or other employees or anyone, then you may have a case for slander (defamation). There would need to be the false statement and publication (meaning it was said to others, any others in a factual way. Ie: joe stole the money--contrast with: the money was stolen, we are investigating Joe.) The damages part is assumed in a slander case, depending on the jurisdiction it might even be slander per se.
If you didn't lose your jopb over this, and they didn't publicly accuse you, I'd say you are likely out of luck.