Christine Fitzgerald recently scored a victory on behalf of our client, a retail merchandising company, in an action against a former employee for tortious interference, defamation, and conversion. After ceasing employment the defendant maliciously attempted to harm our client by mailing letters to more than 50 officers and affiliated retailers of its largest customer, falsely alleging that our client and its owner were under criminal investigation by various federal and state regulators. The defendant also sent an anonymous letter to the Rhode Island Division of Taxation falsely accusing the company of engaging in payroll tax fraud, which triggered a meritless tax audit. After a two day trial the jury awarded our client lost profit damages of $80,000. In addition, Christine secured an award of attorneys’ fees against the former employee.

December 2015