$350,000 in damages awarded for Yelp review

[Herebecause]

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2...00-in-damages/

In quick summary - a divorced couple posted reviews on Yelp that contained false statements regarding the wife's attorney. Even though the couple tried to drop the appeal of the initial judgement against them, the court still issued a decision against the couple.

[TheHuckster]

The ruling was based on evidence that the review was based on made up facts, which falls under defamation and slander. I can understand the concern that this sets a precedent for people who have legitimate complaints to be silenced, or attempted to be silenced; however, slander and defamation laws have existed long before this case, and that precedent has always existed.

[Greenday]

This isn't the first time someone's been sued over a Yelp review. It won't be the last. And if they are lying about what they Yelp, they deserve to get their asses handed to them in court.

[Rageaholic]

Wait, the divorced couple teamed up after getting a divorce? WTF?

[Jetfire]

Wait, the divorced couple teamed up after getting a divorce? WTF?

The Enemy of My enemy and all that? The other applicable saying is "The only winner in a divorce is the lawyers".

In any case, sounds like it's a proper ruling. They were proven to be lying in their reviews, and in a reputation-heavy career like law, bad reviews would undoubtedly be damaging.

[s_stabeler]

yeah- it sounds like a classic slander case to me. more or less, you can't go around lying in reviews.

[Racket_Man]

The other applicable saying is "The only winner in a divorce is the lawyers".

.

This is only true IF you involve lawyers in the process. My Ex and I did it Pro Se using preprinted documents (ie. fill in the blank) but then we did not have that much in assets, no house or property, no pension, no big liquid assets such as checking or savings, and our daughter had reached majority. Filled in the blanks, filed the paperwork, paid the fee, waited the required-by-law period, had our preliminary hearing, 2 weeks later went before the Judge, he asked the standard questions, AND declared Divorced.

NO lawyer involved.

[Hyena Dandy]

Wait, the divorced couple teamed up after getting a divorce? WTF?

Well, they may have wanted a divorce, but not like they wanted to kill each-other or something. Not every divorce is high drama and throwing things, some divorced couples still get on great, they're just not married anymore.