Libel over a negative product review?
I feel as if I’m doing so much work on another’s behalf. My ex is accusing me of writing a neg review of his company. At first I thought nothing of it, but now he says he wants to go to court. I asked him if I could look at the reviews and he gave me the names of the forums they were posted on. It is possible to see that this guy was angry and felt like he was ripped off and the product was defective. He made one post, then was continually attacked by people whom he believed worked for my ex – which I know may or may not be true b/c only my ex and his brother work on these. I guess the product he got crakced and when he tried to return it, my ex told him it was after 30 days. I don’t know if this is true b/c my ex seems like the type who would give a refund. The guy said he was offered an exchange, but didn’t want it b/c he felt the product was defective. So, tons of attacks are made on this guy. Bantering goes back and forth for a few days. Some people are on his side, saying they don’t like the look of the product. I’ve read these things extensively b/c I want to be prepared. My ex also told me to look at another forum. I did and the same type of review, on the same day was posted, but under a different name. When I looked at the guy’s profile, it was the same last name.
So, now my ex is blaming me. Saying that I wrote them. They were written on mainly the same day, with the same message, and around the time we broke up. I’m doing my own research b/c I have no money for a lawyer, and in fact, I’m preg with my ex’s baby and have a 3 year old – I don’t need this. I could see how he thinks it’s me, but it wasn’t. There is no convincing him. And now he says that he knows for sure it was my IP – which is ridiculous! He also claims that he wants to sue my dad b/c my dad pays the internet bill, so he is liable – I believe he is now attacking my dad b/c he realizes I have no money myself. I spoke to some IT experts who said it IS possible to make something look like it came ftom my IP – so naturally, I’m a little worried. Around the time of these postings, my computer came down with a virus, that I thought he had sent me. I’m not rich, but my parents are. I think he may be setting me up. If this is a real guy who is upset about the product, then shouldn’t someone protect his freedom of speech? My ex can’t just go around suing people who leave a negative review. The review is pretty harsh, but all that follow is the guy defending himself. I don’t want to repost it, but this is the gist: "I bought some … from … and w/in a few weeks they cracked. When I called the owner was rude to me and I felt he ripped me off. Buyer beware!"
How do I "Turn it around on him?"
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Tagged with: brother work • dad • few days • internet bill • ip • lawyer • money
Filed under: Ways To Get An Ex Back
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First, stop talking to your ex. It is getting you nowhere and anything you say is likely to be used against you.
Let him file his lawsuit. I’m betting he won’t. If you didn’t post the comments there is no way he can prove that you did.
He could print out something fake to make it look like it came from your IP, but computer experts know that, and only information from the serrver where the forum is hosted would be reliable proof.
I repeat. Stop talking to him. Retain a lawyer and tell him to direct any further comments to your lawyer. The lawyer can warn him that his communications are crossing the line into harassment and that unless HE wants to be on the receiving end of a very provable criminal charge or lawsuit, he should leave you alone.
Your ex would have a difficult time proving the post came from you even if it did. He also has no legal grounds to go after your father even if he pays your internet bill, do you live with your parents, did it happen from their home? As you see there is little he can do from that aspect. Maybe rather than spending all that energy looking into what he assumes if fact, he should be investigating if the product was actually defective. Often when people are upset at a bad product they will post to several sites to warn others of the possibility. You have to ask yourself, Is it actually anything to be libel over if it was in reality someone unconnected to you, or it was really a defective product that your ex merely offered a replacement for? Does your ex actually carry only a 30 day return policy? It could also have been someone he knows that would have made it look as though it come from your IP address, but in reality a way for your ex to attempt to discredit you. Turn it around on him.
Your post is waaaaaay too long for me to bother reading it, but in cases of libel and slander, remember this: the truth is always an absolute defense to both libel and slander.