{"id":7488,"date":"2026-09-18T13:32:07","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T13:32:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/?page_id=7488"},"modified":"2026-09-30T12:18:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T12:18:10","slug":"defamation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/defamation\/","title":{"rendered":"Defamation"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:end;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:end;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;min-height:400px;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60{background-image:url('http:\/\/g96.dce.mytemp.website\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rsw_900m-10.webp');background-size:cover;background-position:53% 26%;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.79;background-color:var(--global-palette3, #1A202C);}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:repeat(2, minmax(0, 1fr));}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:30px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(1 of *:not(style)){order:2;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(2 of *:not(style)){order:1;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(3 of *:not(style)){order:12;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(4 of *:not(style)){order:11;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(5 of *:not(style)){order:22;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(6 of *:not(style)){order:21;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(7 of *:not(style)){order:32;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 > .kt-row-column-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-column:nth-child(8 of *:not(style)){order:31;}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id7488_8c9d45-60 alignnone has-theme-palette3-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-equal kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-bottom\">\n<style>.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_0c83c3-0b inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_738854-37\"]{padding-bottom:20px;line-height:65px;font-style:normal;color:#ffffff;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_738854-37\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_738854-37\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_738854-37\"]{font-size:35px;line-height:52px;}}<\/style>\n<h1 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_738854-37 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_738854-37\">Defamation<\/h1>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"] a, .kt-adv-heading-link7488_8d34d9-cd, .kt-adv-heading-link7488_8d34d9-cd .kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"]{color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"] a:hover, .kt-adv-heading-link7488_8d34d9-cd:hover, .kt-adv-heading-link7488_8d34d9-cd:hover .kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\"]{color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd wp-block-kadence-advancedheading has-theme-palette-9-color has-text-color\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_8d34d9-cd\">Michael Trust founded Michael Trust Law, APC after more than 35 years in HR leadership across entertainment, healthcare, higher education, finance, banking, solar energy, and other industries, including managing approximately 35,000 disability and leave-of-absence cases. He holds the SPHR, PHRca, and SHRM-SCP credentials. The PHRca is a California-specific HR credential focused on California employment law and HR practice. According to HRCI\u2019s published pass-rate statistics at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrci.org\/pass-rates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.hrci.org\/pass-rates<\/a>, the PHRca has the lowest pass rate of all HRCI credentials \u2014 47% as of December 31, 2025, compared with 71\u201384% for HRCI\u2019s other certifications \u2014 and only 293 candidates worldwide tested for it in 2025. That HR-systems background helps identify HR process issues early, which can shape legal analysis on both sides.<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_87823e-6a > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_87823e-6a inner-column-2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:1;background-image:url('https:\/\/stage.startertemplatecloud.com\/e10\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2021\/01\/wave_tr_bg.png');background-size:auto;background-position:center center;background-attachment:scroll;background-repeat:repeat;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id7488_32fb06-85 alignnone has-theme-palette4-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-layout-overlay kt-row-overlay-normal\"><\/div><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:90px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:180px;padding-left:20px;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:60px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:60px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:20px;flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column7488_4df67a-15, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column7488_4df67a-15:not(.specificity){margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_4df67a-15 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:1242px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:100px;padding-left:100px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c > .kt-row-column-wrap{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id7488_33c7e4-3c alignnone has-theme-palette8-background-color kt-row-has-bg wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column7488_ac2ac6-93 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_ac2ac6-93 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_ac2ac6-93 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_ac2ac6-93 > 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class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_ac2ac6-93 inner-column-1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/California-Workplace-Defamation-1024x768.png\" alt=\"California Workplace Defamation\" class=\"wp-image-7495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/California-Workplace-Defamation-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/California-Workplace-Defamation-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/California-Workplace-Defamation-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/California-Workplace-Defamation.png 1448w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<style>.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_3e1b87-3b kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4{max-width:1140px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal:not(.kb-section-md-dir-vertical)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4{position:relative;}@media all and (min-width: 1025px){.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4{-webkit-flex:0 1 1140px;flex:0 1 1140px;max-width:unset;margin-left:unset;margin-right:unset;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-sm-dir-vertical:not(.kb-section-sm-dir-horizontal):not(.kb-section-sm-dir-specificity)>.kt-inside-inner-col>.kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4{max-width:1140px;-webkit-flex:1;flex:1;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_a2a55d-e4 kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",  \"@type\": \"LegalService\",  \"name\": \"Michael Trust Law, APC\",  \"description\": \"California employment law firm representing private-sector employees and employers throughout California in matters including wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, leave and disability, and termination.\", \"serviceType\": \"California Workplace Defamation\", \"url\": \"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/defamation\/\",  \"telephone\": \"+1-424-634-9333\",  \"email\": \"michaeltrust@michaeltrustlaw.com\",  \"priceRange\": \"$$\",  \"address\": {    \"@type\": \"PostalAddress\",    \"streetAddress\": \"703 Pier Avenue, Suite B367\",    \"addressLocality\": \"Hermosa Beach\",    \"addressRegion\": \"CA\",    \"postalCode\": \"90254\",    \"addressCountry\": \"US\"  },  \"areaServed\": {    \"@type\": \"State\",    \"name\": \"California\"  },  \"founder\": {    \"@type\": \"Person\",    \"name\": \"Michael Trust, Esq.\",    \"jobTitle\": \"Attorney\",    \"hasCredential\": [      \"SPHR (HR Certification Institute)\",      \"PHRca (HR Certification Institute, California-specific)\",      \"SHRM-SCP (Society for Human Resource Management)\"    ]  },  \"sameAs\": [    \"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/caemploymentlawyer\/\",    \"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MichaelTrustLaw\",    \"https:\/\/apps.calbar.ca.gov\/attorney\/Licensee\/Detail\/356354\"  ]}<\/script>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\":[\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"My old employer told a company i applied to that i was fired for poor performance, but that isn\u2019t true. Can i sue for defamation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"Possibly, but it is harder than it looks. A reference given in response to an inquiry and based on credible evidence is usually protected by California\u2019s qualified common-interest privilege (Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747(c)) unless you can show the employer acted with actual malice \u2014 that it knew the statement was false or had no good-faith basis for believing it was true (Lundquist v. Reusser (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1193). If the statement is also just the stated reason for your termination and your only real harm is the lost job opportunity, a separate legal question \u2014 currently pending before the California Supreme Court in Hearn v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. \u2014 may affect whether that claim can proceed as defamation at all, as opposed to being folded into a wrongful termination claim.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"My manager wrote a performance review full of things that weren\u2019t true, then used it to fire me. Is that defamation?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"A performance review shared among people with a legitimate interest in your work \u2014 your manager, HR, an investigator \u2014 is typically privileged under Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747(c) absent actual malice. And because the review was the stated reason for your termination, it may face the same pending legal question noted above \u2014 whether that kind of claim must be brought as wrongful termination rather than as a separate defamation claim. Save the review and any documents showing your actual performance history; whether a claim is viable is highly fact-specific.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\":\"Question\",\n      \"name\":\"How long do i have to bring a defamation claim?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\":{\n        \"@type\":\"Answer\",\n        \"text\":\"One year from when you discovered the statement (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7340(c)). This is separate from, and often shorter than, the deadlines that apply to a wrongful termination or retaliation claim based on the same facts \u2014 do not assume one deadline covers both.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A workplace statement can be defamatory, but California law gives employers broad protection for performance reviews, internal investigation communications, and job references made in good faith. A viable claim usually requires proof of actual malice, or a statement that caused harm separate from the job loss itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This HR background often proves relevant to defamation analysis, where the audience for a statement and the process behind a performance review or reference often determine whether a privilege applies.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7c756c-e3\"><strong>How Defamation Works in the Employment Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Libel is a false, unprivileged written statement; slander is the spoken equivalent (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=46.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a7\u00a745, 46<\/a>). In the workplace, the most common scenarios are a false performance write-up used to justify discipline or termination, a false or misleading negative reference given to a prospective employer, and being forced to repeat an employer&#8217;s false stated reason for termination to a new employer.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_b93ee0-da\"><strong>Why Most Employer Communications Are Privileged<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California\u2019s qualified common-interest privilege (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=47.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747<\/a>(c)) covers most of what looks, at first glance, like actionable workplace defamation: performance reviews and internal investigation or disciplinary communications among people who share an interest in the employee\u2019s conduct (management, HR, an investigator); a reference given to a prospective employer in response to an inquiry and based on credible evidence; and an employer\u2019s answer to a &#8220;would you rehire&#8221; question, including disclosing that a non-rehire decision was based on a sexual-harassment finding \u2014 all without exposure to liability, so long as it is made without malice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The privilege yields only on a showing of actual malice \u2014 that the speaker was motivated by hatred or ill will toward the employee, or spoke without a good-faith, reasonably grounded belief in the truth of the statement (<a href=\"https:\/\/scocal.stanford.edu\/opinion\/lundquist-v-reusser-31561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Lundquist v. Reusser<\/em> (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1193<\/a>; CACI No. 1723). That is a high bar, and it is why these claims are rarely brought successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_f938eb-84\"><strong>The Second Bar: Statements That Are Just the Reason for Your Termination<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even a statement that overcomes the privilege can still fail if it is, in substance, just the employer\u2019s stated reason for the termination and the only real injury is the job loss itself. California courts have treated that as a wrongful-termination claim in different packaging, not an independent defamation tort, unless the statement caused reputational harm separate from and beyond losing the job.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_3013b4-2a\"><strong>THE CAUTION<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8d7da;padding-right:5px;padding-left:5px\">As of the date this page was published, this question is pending before the California Supreme Court in <em><a href=\"https:\/\/courts.ca.gov\/opinion\/published-extended-post\/2025-01-24\/a167742\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/courts.ca.gov\/opinion\/published-extended-post\/2025-01-24\/a167742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hearn v. Pacific Gas &amp; Electric Co<\/a><\/em>. (Cal. Supreme Ct. No. S289581, review granted May 14, 2025). The Court of Appeal held that a terminated employee could not recover in tort for a defamatory statement that was the vehicle for the termination itself, where the only damages sought were job-related; a dissenting justice disagreed. The California Supreme Court has not yet decided the question, and the answer could go either way. Whether a specific termination-related statement supports a stand-alone defamation claim, or must be pursued only as part of a wrongful termination claim, is unresolved and fact-specific.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_529e28-99\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_529e28-99\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_529e28-99\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_529e28-99 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_529e28-99\">What Actually Survives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putting the two limits together, a realistic defamation claim in this context generally requires one of: proof of actual malice; a statement published to people outside the group who actually shared the relevant interest, which keeps the privilege from applying in the first place; or reputational harm that is independent of the termination itself \u2014 for example, a statement repeated to people who had no role in the employment decision, or one that continues to circulate after the employment relationship ends. How Hearn is ultimately decided will likely sharpen this analysis further.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_973570-b5\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_973570-b5\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_973570-b5\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_973570-b5 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_973570-b5\">The One-Year Deadline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California requires a defamation claim to be filed within one year of discovery of the statement (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=340.&amp;lawCode=CCP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7340<\/a>(c)). This deadline runs separately from the deadline on a companion wrongful-termination or retaliation claim arising from the same facts \u2014 do not assume one deadline covers both.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2\"]{font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_aadd67-d2\">When to Contact Us<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether a specific statement is privileged, whether it rises to actual malice, and whether Hearn\u2019s resolution changes the analysis are all fact-specific questions. Contact Michael Trust Law, APC for a 30-minute conversation about your situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Initial contact does not create an attorney-client relationship \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/disclaimers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"3208\">Disclaimers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=46.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a745 (defines libel)<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=47.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747<\/a>(c) (qualified common-interest privilege); <a href=\"https:\/\/scocal.stanford.edu\/opinion\/lundquist-v-reusser-31561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Lundquist v. Reusser<\/em> (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1193<\/a> (actual-malice standard); <a href=\"https:\/\/courts.ca.gov\/opinion\/published-extended-post\/2025-01-24\/a167742\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/courts.ca.gov\/opinion\/published-extended-post\/2025-01-24\/a167742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hearn v. Pacific Gas &amp; Electric Co<\/a>. (Ct. App., Jan. 24, 2025) \u2014 review granted, Cal. Supreme Ct. No. S289581, cited for persuasive value only per Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(e); <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=340.&amp;lawCode=CCP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7340<\/a>(c) (one-year limitations period).<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9\"]{font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h3 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_48caaf-a9\">Explore Related Employee Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/other-discrimination\/\">Other Discrimination<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/sexual-harassment\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/sexual-harassment\/\">Harassment<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/retaliation\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/retaliation\/\">Retaliation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/whistleblower\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/whistleblower\/\">Whistleblower<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/topics\/\">\n            Browse all California employment law topics\n            <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2192<\/span>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id7488_979ec4-cf alignnone wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-1-columns kt-row-layout-equal kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-top\">\n<style>.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca{position:relative;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca:not(.specificity){margin-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);margin-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca, .kt-inside-inner-col > .kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca:not(.specificity){margin-right:0px;margin-left:0px;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column7488_d40b86-ca kb-section-dir-vertical\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb\"]{text-align:center;font-size:30px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_7ba476-cb\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n<style>.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);row-gap:0px;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);color:#555555;padding-top:9px;padding-right:13px;padding-bottom:9px;padding-left:13px;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#555555;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#555555;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{color:#444444;background:#eeeeee;border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-blocks-accordion--visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#444444;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#444444;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, body:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#eeeeee;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{color:#ffffff;background:#444444;border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basiccircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclosecircle ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrowcircle )  > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#ffffff;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger{background:#ffffff;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:after, .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c:not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-basic ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-xclose ):not( .kt-accodion-icon-style-arrow ) .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active .kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger:before{background:#444444;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-inner-wrap{display:block;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-inner-wrap .kt-accordion-pane:not(:first-child){margin-top:0px;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-panel-inner{border-top:0px solid transparent;border-right:0px solid transparent;border-bottom:0px solid transparent;border-left:0px solid transparent;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header{border-top:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-right:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-bottom:1px solid #f2f2f2;border-left:1px solid #f2f2f2;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header:hover, \n\t\t\t\tbody:not(.hide-focus-outline) .kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible{border-top:1px solid #878787;border-right:1px solid #878787;border-bottom:1px solid #878787;border-left:1px solid #878787;}.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c .kt-accordion-header-wrap .kt-blocks-accordion-header:focus-visible,\n\t\t\t\t.kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c > .kt-accordion-inner-wrap > .wp-block-kadence-pane > .kt-accordion-header-wrap > .kt-blocks-accordion-header.kt-accordion-panel-active{border-top:1px solid #444444;border-right:1px solid #444444;border-bottom:1px solid #444444;border-left:1px solid #444444;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-accordion alignnone\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-wrap kt-accordion-id7488_d5fbc5-4c kt-accordion-has-5-panes kt-active-pane-0 kt-accordion-block kt-pane-header-alignment-left kt-accodion-icon-style-basic kt-accodion-icon-side-right\" style=\"max-width:none\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-inner-wrap\" data-allow-multiple-open=\"false\" data-start-open=\"0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-1 kt-pane7488_5783ff-e6\"><h3 class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">My old employer told a company i applied to that i was fired for poor performance, but that isn\u2019t true. Can i sue for defamation?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_549190-20\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_549190-20\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_549190-20\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_549190-20 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_549190-20\">Possibly, but it is harder than it looks. A reference given in response to an inquiry and based on credible evidence is usually protected by California\u2019s qualified common-interest privilege (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=47.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747<\/a>(c)) unless you can show the employer acted with actual malice \u2014 that it knew the statement was false or had no good-faith basis for believing it was true (<a href=\"https:\/\/scocal.stanford.edu\/opinion\/lundquist-v-reusser-31561\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Lundquist v. Reusser<\/em> (1994) 7 Cal.4th 1193<\/a>). If the statement is also just the stated reason for your termination and your only real harm is the lost job opportunity, a separate legal question \u2014 currently pending before the California Supreme Court in <a href=\"https:\/\/courts.ca.gov\/opinion\/published-extended-post\/2025-01-24\/a167742\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hearn v. Pacific Gas &amp; Electric Co<\/a>. \u2014 may affect whether that claim can proceed as defamation at all, as opposed to being folded into a wrongful termination claim.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-3 kt-pane7488_90f148-38\"><h3 class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">My manager wrote a performance review full of things that weren\u2019t true, then used it to fire me. Is that defamation?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3\"]{font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<p class=\"kt-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3 wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading7488_c19271-e3\">A performance review shared among people with a legitimate interest in your work \u2014 your manager, HR, an investigator \u2014 is typically privileged under <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=47.&amp;lawCode=CIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Civ. Code \u00a747<\/a>(c) absent actual malice. And because the review was the stated reason for your termination, it may face the same pending legal question noted above \u2014 whether that kind of claim must be brought as wrongful termination rather than as a separate defamation claim. Save the review and any documents showing your actual performance history; whether a claim is viable is highly fact-specific.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-pane kt-accordion-pane kt-accordion-pane-4 kt-pane7488_0cb060-89\"><h3 class=\"kt-accordion-header-wrap\"><button class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-header kt-acccordion-button-label-show\" type=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title-wrap\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-title\">How long do i have to bring a defamation claim?<\/span><\/span><span class=\"kt-blocks-accordion-icon-trigger\"><\/span><\/button><\/h3><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel kt-accordion-panel-hidden\"><div class=\"kt-accordion-panel-inner\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One year from when you discovered the statement (<a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=340.&amp;lawCode=CCP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cal. Code Civ. Proc. \u00a7340<\/a>(c)). This is separate from, and often shorter than, the deadlines that apply to a wrongful termination or retaliation claim based on the same facts \u2014 do not assume one deadline covers both.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Defamation Michael Trust founded Michael Trust Law, APC after more than 35 years in HR leadership across entertainment, healthcare, higher education, finance, banking, solar energy, and other industries, including managing&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1377,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":true,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"hide","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-7488","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7488"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7725,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7488\/revisions\/7725"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1377"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaeltrustlaw.com\/mystaging01\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}