Federal and state laws also forbid employers from disclosing whether current or former employees had lodged complaints of illegal job discrimination. And the American with Disabilities Act and many state laws addressing public disclosure of private facts forbid employers from leaking information about their staff members' physical ailments and emotional conditions. Generally, employers fear defamation lawsuits more than discrimination claims. Under discrimination claims, federal and many states' laws cap the amounts of money an employee can obtain against the employer. This is not the case under defamation lawsuits.
Defamation lawsuits can yield costly verdicts.
Compensation typically is sought for the suffering of emotional pain and for reimbursement for economic damages such as lost wages. These lawsuits also commonly seek punitive damages to punish wrongdoers and deter others from acting similarly. The amount of money that can be awarded for punitive damages can exceed the amount of money provided for emotional pain and economic damages. A statement that a restaurant worker had been dishonest. A statement that a microcomputer specialist committed sabotage.