Is it legal for a previous employer to bad mouth me? How can I find out if they are doing that?

As you stated, you don't need the money either confront the co worker or leave.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.