A close friend of mine was accused of rape in college some time ago. Though he was accused after he broke up with the chick (let's call her Jamie). They had sex at a Frat Party, she had a few drinks but they were talking to each other since they knew eachother before and had fooled around before. After the Frat Party, she sent him a Facebook message the day after saying she missed him. Then for about a year they were in On and Off relationship. They broke up, she was upset and started a commotion with some people that she was raped but didn't show signs of being drunk, heck, she went out with my friend for about a year. She started a case with the University.

The University reviewed the case, he wasn't expelled. Though 2 years ago I was hanging out at a bar with him and his co-workers, a girl from his school who knew the accuser told some of his co-workers of the accusation. My buddy told me that he was feeling weird at work, that some co-workers were looking at him a bit odd and weren't talking to him. Either way his contract with the company ended and he had to look for a new job.

My buddy found a new job and has been working for over a year with his new company, though he noticed that some people from that similar group back in school and an old co-worker from that company are working at his current job. Again some people are looking at him oddly. I feel that it's due to rumors. What I want to ask is if he can place some sort of Libel/Slander type of lawsuit against people making rumors.

TL;DR Can a buddy of mine place some sort of Libel/Slander lawsuit against co-workers/individuals ruining his name?