Can You stop my former employer from giving a horriber unhonest reference

I am a CNA got training at Salem Golden Living Center in Salem,SD . Never been wrote up or discharged , gave a month notice verbal quit relocate notice. I am getting very bad reference from this empolyer, to the point of not getting hired. This retalliation has to stop. Can I sue employer, please let me know what to do, I am trying to further my cna statis to becoming a nurse but my new employers that are trying to hire me are uncertain because of bad reference. I do not deserve this treatment from Cheryl or Joan SD. I called SD on 11/09/2012 DON and she told me to contact Dept of Health and I did so on11/09/2012 but no one has contacted me so I am very concerned here. His name is Anthony Nelson 605-773-3497