can i file a defamation law suit against a former employer

APOLOGIZE TO MY NEW EMPLOYEE FOR LYING ITS TOO LATE
























































i recently quit my job for personal reasons and applied for a new job that i did get. i recieved a good reference from one of the managers at my old place of employment.one of the other managers found out i had gotten a new job and took upon themselves to call my new place of employment and told them not to hire me because i was under investigation which was a lie. my new employer then told me that she could not give me the job because of this false information. my mom filed a complaint and that manager did call my new employer and admitted that she had lied. i feel its too late for that because i still dont have that job