OT: Defamation lawsuit

[lifeisgood]

I recently observed mail boxes in my community that had signs that said something to the effect of “Beware do not hire this lanscaper due to poor product and bad customer service”. There was no name on the post but I was curious if the lanscaper could sue due to defamation? I’m sure that the landscaper probably knows who was not happy with their work. If the landscaper had evidence that proved who posted these signs, could he/she have grounds for a lawsuit based on someone’s opinion? I’m sure that these types of post could severly damage someones reputation quickly and they would not be hired again. There are a lot of chinese and indian people in my neighborhood and word would get around quickly. What are your thought?

[UCGal]

Since it was written it would be slander.
(Defamation is verbal.)

And whether it is slander/libel/defamation depends on whether the person stating it is stating falsehoods.

If the person making the statements is stating the truth – no defamation/libel/slander has occurred.

Otherwise Angie’s List and other rating services would cease to exist. Same with Yelp, etc.

Now if the statements are an outright lie – that’s actionable.

At least that’s how our attorney explained it to me when I posted some negative reviews and was accused of slander. I had the facts behind me so there was no case.

[matt-waiting]

Sounds like an opinion (which is not actionable)and protected as consumer speech. A defamation lawsuit would be quickly met with an Anti-Slapp special motion to strike. My guess is that the ladnscaper would end up paying the consumer’s defense costs and fees.

[scaredyclassic]

I’m angry at best buy right now. I bought a phone, told I had 10 days to cancel contract. I cancelled timely. Then the carrier said there was a separate 3 day cancellation pd for activation fees. And I owed them 200$ even though contract was timely cancelled. I feel best buy had a duty to tell me of the two separate cancellation pds. Am I being unreasonable?

Best buys position is read your contract don’t rely on what we say.

My feeling in response is, well then screw you best buy.

[lifeisgood]

I assume that the poster has given factual information. Went by today and the signs were ripped down. Either way, the landscaper would first have to prove who put the signs up in the first place. That to me would be the hardest thing to prove.

[lifeisgood]

I’m actually glad that someone is taking a stand in our neighborhood. It’s about time someone made these service providers accountable for their actions. I believe that most people who are unhappy never speak up. If they did, then the level of work would certainly go up. Even the landscaper we hired had a sense of entitlement once the contract was signed. Where’s the service after the sale?

[Hobie]

Scardy, join the club of screwed by best buy. I hope you used your credit card to buy the phone and all will be well. Seems BB loves to nit pick and gain customers by forcing their hand rather than providing a good product/service.

Screwed once, but never again. I’ll pay more before I give Best Buy any more $

[UCGal]

[quote=Hobie]Scardy, join the club of screwed by best buy. I hope you used your credit card to buy the phone and all will be well. Seems BB loves to nit pick and gain customers by forcing their hand rather than providing a good product/service.

Screwed once, but never again. I’ll pay more before I give Best Buy any more $[/quote]

This. I will never shop at best buy again. Ever.

[Coronita]

That reminds me a time that a friend of my bought a thermador appliance from a store. It had some controller issue, so they called the store, and the store bounced them to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer bounced them back to the store.

Friend ended up driving his minivan to the store, parked on a public street entering the store, left a huge banner on the car saying “Call me to ask how I really feel about my defective Thermador Appliance that I bought at XYZ store… XXX-yyy-zzzz”. He took a picture, sent it to the store manager and the manufacturer…. Appliance was taken care of the the same day.

[Coronita]

[quote=squat250]I’m angry at best buy right now. I bought a phone, told I had 10 days to cancel contract. I cancelled timely. Then the carrier said there was a separate 3 day cancellation pd for activation fees. And I owed them 200$ even though contract was timely cancelled. I feel best buy had a duty to tell me of the two separate cancellation pds. Am I being unreasonable?

Best buys position is read your contract don’t rely on what we say.

My feeling in response is, well then screw you best buy.[/quote]

Charge back time.

[Author]

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