Business owners are often unhappy to get negative reviews. In fact, there have even been cases where businesses have sued those who have left these reviews. They claimed that the negative reviews had such an impact on their reputation that they lost customers and that it impacted their overall sales. They wanted compensation for these economic damages, along with the removal of the reviews. But can businesses really sue over someone’s opinion about their products or services? How can they claim that a negative review is a form of defamation? The review needs to be honest The key lies in whethe ..read more

Working as a physician is one of the most stressful jobs possible. Every choice a medical doctor makes could have life-altering implications for their patients. They need to monitor each patient in their care closely and remain up to date on cutting-edge treatments and other developments in their area of expertise. As if that were not difficult enough, physicians also need to fight against human nature. The average patient may struggle to fully comply with a physician’s recommendations. They may not take medication on a schedule as they should. They may blatantly lie, claiming they have done p ..read more

In the digital age, where information spreads like wildfire, the delicate balance between free speech and protecting one’s reputation has become increasingly complex.  Defamation law stands at the intersection of these two fundamental rights, seeking to harmonize the right to free expression with the need to shield individuals from false and damaging statements. What are its principles, and how does it strive for fair equilibrium? What is defamation? Defamation is a legal concept that encompasses both libel (written or printed falsehoods) and slander (spoken falsehoods). At its core, defa ..read more

Defamation generally happens when a person intentionally harms an individual or a company by saying or writing something that is false. They present their false statement as a fact. They may do this to harm the reputation of the business, which can cost its stakeholders money. A defamation lawsuit seeks to put an end to the behavior and help the affected parties obtain damages. There are two specific ways in which defamation classifications have traditionally been divided. If false information has been written down, then it would typically be treated as libel. But if the defamation consists of ..read more

Defamation can occur when false statements about a person or entity harm their reputation. It is a civil wrong, also known as a tort, that can harm one’s reputation through spoken words (slander) or written or printed material (libel). Both forms of defamation can result in severe consequences, leading to legal actions and significant damages to the affected party. What is libel per se? Libel per se is a specific type of libel that critically differs from traditional libel cases. The term “per se” is Latin for “in itself,” indicating that certain false statements are so inherently damaging tha ..read more

The corporate world is notoriously competitive and there are very few markets that remain untapped. Thus, your company needs to gain every possible edge over the competition. One factor that will likely prove to be pivotal to the success of your business is its reputation. Why is your business reputation so important and how might it be damaged? Retaining customers and attracting new ones You’re always looking to entice new customers to your brand, and a positive reputation – whether it’s communicated via online reviews or word of mouth – will help you to do this. At the same time, something t ..read more

Good reviews can give your business the boost and recognition that it needs to be successful. If you’re selling products online, these reviews can also entirely drive sales. Many consumers rely on reviews more than anything else, and they fully trust what they read, believing that it came from other people just like them. This can create some significant problems for your business if you get negative reviews. They can have a direct financial impact on your business, and they could make it so that you can barely move some of the products you’ve put up for sale. Just a few bad reviews can have t ..read more

Social media is a big part of modern life, and some people feel more connected and emotionally invested in their online communities than they do in their own neighborhoods. That can make it particularly distressing, then, when someone posts things on social media about you that are untrue and damaging to your reputation. It can also be legally actionable if those posts rise to the level of defamation. What is social media defamation? Social media defamation is a type of libel, where one party makes a damaging and untrue statement of fact (as opposed to an opinion) about another party and publi ..read more

You’ve worked hard for many years to establish your company and build its reputation. For the most part, you’ve had glowing reviews and repeat customers.  Unfortunately, in a minority of cases, you have received negative feedback. Some of this has been down to genuine error but you suspect a lot of the negativity is malicious.  Why would anyone defame your company and what can you do about it?  Not everyone is happy to pay  You provide high-end services and your prices reflect this. Your customers only receive the best, and they are usually more than willing to pay. Sadly ..read more

When someone files for divorce, they may become very antagonistic toward their spouse. People often don’t want to consider their own contributions to the failure of their marriage and instead want to blame everything on their soon-to-be ex. Sometimes, a person who feels wronged by the circumstances of the marriage may publicly talk about what they believe was an unfair situation with exaggerated language. Other times, someone who engaged in misconduct themselves may try to cover up their own misdeeds by accusing their spouse of misconduct like drug use or infidelity. If your spouse has recentl ..read more