Student Sued for $750,000 for Facebook Acct criticizing Towing Company

[RamboLiberal]

A 21-year-old Western Michigan University student is facing a $750,000 lawsuit after launching a complaint against a towing company on the social networking site Facebook.

Justin Kurtz created the Facebook group "Kalamazoo Residents against T & J Towing" in February after his car was towed from the apartment complex where he lives in, according to The Kalamazoo Gazette. The group has since gained more than 4,200 members.

Last week, T & J Towing sued Kurtz seeking $750,000 in damages and a court order that he “immediately cease and desist any further libelous and slanderous written claims” about the company.


Kurtz says his Saturn SL2 was legally parked at The Arboretum apartment complex and that he had his complex-issued parking sticker displayed.

He says that when he reclaimed his car from the towing company, the sticker was missing and the front end of his car was damaged.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/05/24/2010-05-24_western_michigan_university_student_sued_by_t__j_towing_company.html#ixzz0ouYFLTHB

I hope a judge throws this one out of court!

[charlesg]

1. T & J Towing sounds like scum:

The Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan, however, has given T & J Towing an overall rating of “F," stating that the company shows a pattern of “complaints in which consumers allege the company towed vehicles in error when either the vehicle had the required parking pass, or the vehicle was not parked in a designated no parking area.”

[HuckleB]

2. Scumbag business owners are using this threat all the time, these days.

Any review online seems to be risking a possible lawsuit. Free speech is at risk.

[HipChick]

3. It's a racket...a Towing guy said its the easiest money he ever made..

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

4. I don't usually romanticize the old west

But the thought of tow truck drivers being hanged in the street or otherwise hunted down violently by vigilantes is intensely appealing to me.

[strategery blunder]

5. I hope Mr. Kurtz finds a good attorney

The counterclaims on this one might be very interesting indeed.. :evilgrin:

[CoffeeCat]

6. This towing company is stupid...

For the Facebook user to be guilty of libel--His statement would have to be false.

It sounds like this citizen decided to fight back. Good for him.

This man has First Amendment rights. He has the right to communicate, to whomever he
pleases, about what happens to him.

This company sounds like a bunch of bullies. What the Facebook user is alleging is
believable, after seeing this $750k suit.

I say, Facebook user needs to counter sue for intentional infliction of distress,
harassment and also for court costs and attorney fees. Show these bullies a thing or two.

In my city, a group of teachers experienced horrendously bad service at a local restaurant.
The teachers wrote about the account on Facebook and there was a big boycott of the restaurant.
The owner screamed profanities at the teachers, told them to get out and he said he didn't
want any more teachers in his establishment. He then made fun of them being in a union
and had other choice words. Nothing but class.

I love the Internet and social media. It's very empowering. No longer can the big
guy screw over the little guy without consequences. The keyboard is mightier than
the sword.

[Quantess]

7. Could be ruled slander...

[LeftyMom]

9. Only with proof that it's deliberately false and he has malicious intent.

Basically, the tow company needs either impartial witnesses to the placement of the car and the lack of a resident tag (good) or photos (better.) Without that, they don't have a leg to stand on, because they have no means to prove that he's lying, let alone that he's doing it to harm their business.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

10. truth is an absolute defense to slander.

One of the first things you learn in Torts class.

Towing co. doesn't stand a chance.

[NBachers]

8. Legal car theft and ransom