Fired over the phone: Do I have any rights to sue?

[articwolf]

I was "let go" from my job on Friday. I had been spoken to by the management that morning saying that 4 people were going to quit unless I changed the way I treated people. I said no problem I could do this I came in for my shift at 11:00 am and the other cook was instantly mad because at my earlier meeting with the management I had brought up a few problems. This lead to me clocking out but the manager had me try and talk to the other person. The manager and I decided I would go home and calm down and come back at 3pm. I had'nt been gone for 15 minutes when she called my house. I had not got home yet as I was running a couple of errands. I called the manager back at 11:45 and she said they had decided to let me go. I was at a restaurant with a friend and he called to complain about a burgre he got over the weekend and the manager told him they had fired me because I was stealing. The manager is telling everyone this. Do I have any rights to sue or am I out of luck.I also don't think the owner knows what is being said.

[msgny]

If someone publicly says or writes anything factually untrue and it damages you, you indeed can sue for slander, libel, defamation, interference with business relations etc. -- or at least threaten to do so and give a warning.