Plaintiffs often make the mistake of alleging claims of false light on behalf of corporations. This often occurs when the case also involves individual plaintiffs, particularly in the context of internet defamation. It springs from a fundamental misunderstanding of the law. But California does not recognize a claim for false light for corporations. “This is because the tort … [Read more...] about Corporations May Not Maintain A Claim For False Light
Internet Defamation
The Public Figure Doctrine And The Internet
In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes. - Andy Warhol In the future, everyone will be world-famous to 15 people. -Momus No one can dispute that the Internet has changed the world as we know it. From the ways in which we communicate with each other, to the ways in which we access information and make decisions, every … [Read more...] about The Public Figure Doctrine And The Internet
How to read a consumer review
At least 2 or 3 times a week I get a call from an anguished business owner about a negative review on the internet. Sometimes it's on Yelp, other times it's on other sites like Citysearch, Ripoffreport, or Avvo. Negative reviews can be extremely damaging to a business, but in many cases, it's best not to get too upset about them, unless they appear credible and they are … [Read more...] about How to read a consumer review
Think About This Before Responding To A Negative Customer Review
Most small business owners experience severe anguish when they think about the effects of a negative customer review in regard to their internet business reputation. So much so that they are willing to do just about anything, including sending the oft ill-advised demand letter. Usually, general counsel will tell the business owner that sending such a demand letter is no … [Read more...] about Think About This Before Responding To A Negative Customer Review
What is the Statute of Limitations in Internet Defamation Cases?
Relying primarily on a recent California Supreme Court decision, I wrote a while back that the discovery rule does not apply to defamation cases. That is, generally, you have one year to file a lawsuit for defamation (slander/libel) from the time the statement or statements are published. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court did not address specifically whether the discovery rule … [Read more...] about What is the Statute of Limitations in Internet Defamation Cases?