Epinions.com, internet merchant ratings, etc. Slander?

[Marilynn]

What is the name of your state? VT.

I recently gave a poor rating to a merchant on one of those opinion web sites after having a really unpleasant experience at their store when trying to return something. I also included a little blurb about what happened. There was enough recognizable information that the store owner figured out it was me, and sent me a certified letter threatening to sue me for slander. Can a one-star rating and description of a bad shopping experience on a web site that ASKS you for this stuff be slander?

 

[The Occultist]

As long as you can prove that everything you stated as fact was indeed a fact, then you should have no problem defending yourself if this actually managed to turn into a lawsuit.

 

[quincy]

Libel, not slander

When you WRITE something defamatory, it is LIBEL. When you SAY something defamatory, it is SLANDER. What you did was write something, so you would not be sued for slander. You COULD be sued for libel if what you wrote was defamatory and untrue, but ratings are opinions, not facts, and you should not lose any suit brought against you for libel in this case. Reviewers of movies, for instance, rate on their opinion of a movie and cannot be sued if they didn't like a film. You can taste test a product and hate it and say so, but you cannot be sued if you didn't like it. You can visit a doctor and your experience could be horrible and you can say so, but you cannot be sued for your opinion of a doctor. Opinions, defamatory or not, are not generally actionable. BUT, anyone can always sue anyone else for any reason whatsoever.