threaten with lawsuit for negative review? (Worcester: shop, move, car)

[mikemmx]

I wrote a negative review on Google maps for a local auto repair shop in Worcester. Now he is threaten me with a lawsuit. Can I be sued for my review? Should I take it down?

[Shutout]

Technically, yes.

Did you lie in it?

[Ralph_Kirk]

Originally Posted by mikemmx

I wrote a negative review on Google maps for a local auto repair shop in Worcester. Now he is threaten me with a lawsuit. Can I be sued for my review? Should I take it down?

Theoretically, a person can be sued for anything.

But as has been asked, did you tell the truth? Did you give facts? Did you avoid unbased opinions? Did you avoid libel?

If you said something like, "John Doe is a crook and a liar," you might be sued for libel. If you merely stated a series of actions that show him to be a crook and a liar, then probably not.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by mikemmx

I wrote a negative review on Google maps for a local auto repair shop in Worcester. Now he is threaten me with a lawsuit. Can I be sued for my review? Should I take it down?

He was probably just trying to bully you to take the post down. Anyone can sue anyone for anything; it doesn't mean they'll win the case.

[mikemmx]

well that sux.. I did called him a "crooked mechanic and will try to swindle you". guess I'll have to take it down then.

[davebarnes]

Rewrite it.
Facts. Not loaded terms.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Rewrite it.
Facts. Not loaded terms.

This. Remember that your emotional response is factual. It can be argued that you were overcharged, but it's pretty tough to contradict how you felt about the experience.

Also, I don't think businesses fully understand how bad an option suing dissatisfied customers really is. I'd consider a company with a few aberrant negative reviews, but I don't think I'd ever visit a company that was known to sue to remove bad reviews.

[Shutout]

Just explain what happened without negative words.

"The crook didn't fix my car but swindled me instead" ... to "He said he was going to replace this, but didn't... yet still charged for it."

[Mordi]

rewrite the review with facts, then write that the owner threatened to sue you for the bad review -- which is true. that will really stick it to him.

[Torp]

If you statement is factual and you did it without malice The plantiff (in this case mechanic) would then have to show how he has been specifically damaged as a result.

In an action of slander or libel, if the defendant alleges that the words spoken or published were true, such allegation, although not supported by the evidence, shall not of itself be proof of the malice alleged in the complaint, nor shall statements of the defendant differing in import from those alleged be admissible to establish his malice unless such statements were published in pursuance of a general scheme to defame or otherwise injure the plaintiff. If the plaintiff proposes to introduce evidence of statements of the defendant other than those contained in his pleadings, he shall give the defendant written notice of such intention, specifying the date and content of each such statement, at least fourteen days before trial begins, or earlier if the court so orders; and, if any such statement is introduced in evidence, the defendant shall be permitted to prove that it was true, or was privileged, or any other facts relating thereto which tend to negative malice.