Defamation??? Please help

I was fired in April 2005 from my job in NYC. I asked my employer the reason for firing me and i was given the answer "we dont need someone like you in our company". Being that i was fired i applied for unemployment. my claim was granted and i went on to collect unemployment for less than a month before i had a new job. When this job was over (temporary) i was contacted by unemployment saying my previous employer was disputing my claim, saying i was fired for insubordination. After months of back and forth unemployment still granted me my claim.

I started receiving paperwork from the state of new york with a letter attached written by this employer. He states in the letter, He would like to make a strong point at this time, that a police report was filed against me for grand larceny, that i ordered a dell computer under his company name and had it shipped to my home without his knowledge. He then goes on to say it(me ordering the computer) was unknown at the time of my termination although this is not the reason i was terminated, instead i was let go because of misconduct, insubordination, specifically my lack of task completions, inability to work with others, frequent tardiness, and absence from work.

I have been applying for many jobs which im well qualifyed to handle but for some reason after my interviews i never get called back.

I suspected he was giving me a bad name, so i had a friend call and pose as a prospective employer from a fake company. He then proceeded to tell her that i stole computers from his company. that charges were brought up against me for theft, and if she was looking for a good reference from him she would not get it.

I have a copy of one of the letters he sent to NYS unemployment, and i want to get him on tape saying this about me to prospective employers.

I have been out of work since November 2005, and i feel like its because he is giving me a bad name. i never stole from his company, he ordered the computer for me from dell. Hes upset because after he fired me i had no way to continue making payments and dell is sending him the bill, and it is under collections now.

Do i have a case for defamation?


he has sent more than one letter but i only can put my hands on one at this time, and its stamped from the dept. of labor acknowledging they read it.

please someone tell me if its worth me pursuing...
i cant take this job off of my resume i worked there for nearly two years. i was fired in April 2005 but was given a raise in Feb 2005. My boss hired a temporary person to work as my assistant then made me train her to do my job. I approached him 3 times expressing concern that i would be let go once she knew all of my duties he assured me my job was secure. The young lady who replaced me can testify to all of these things, and she no longer works there due to unsuitable working environment