But were you laid off at the same time your company announced “low-performer layoffs?” That’s the real problem here. That claim could be grounds for a class-action slander/libel suit.
In my case it was the company that was poorly performing.
And I agree that they should talk to a lawyer about that. There are pretty strict rules about what you can say about someone who was fired and I’m pretty sure that breaks them.
In my experience as a former corporate shill, I’d face corrective action for providing any work reference, good or bad. Providing either could be legally actionable against the company. The only way I was able to skirt HR was to write a personal reference that highlighted my team member’s skills and competencies anecdotally.