I actually do plan to e-mail my clients. I thought about trying to preempt whatever mail he sends out about the two people he purged, but then I just figured, whatever. I think it's considered okay, and no ethics violation to contact them. The nice thing is that about a year ago when they had actual downsizing layoffs, I contacted my two most familiar clients and asked them if I could use them on my references. So I can just tell them I've gone freelance and wanted to make sure it's still okay to use them as refs!