Court Orders Couple to Pay ₪32,600 for Defamatory Google Reviews Over Glasses
A Tel Aviv court ordered a couple to pay ₪32,600 in defamation damages to an optician after they posted false Google reviews and verbal attacks following a dispute over a custom glasses order.
A customer who purchased expensive prescription glasses and tried to cancel the order found herself in a lengthy legal battle that ended in a heavy fine. The woman and her partner ordered custom multifocal glasses worth ₪9,000, but regretted the purchase just a day later, before receiving the items. When the store owner refused to cancel the custom order, the dispute escalated into court, culminating in a ruling by the Tel Aviv-Yafo Magistrate Court ordering the couple to pay ₪32,600 in compensation for defamation.
The purchase took place approximately six years ago. The customer claimed she was pressured into buying the glasses despite intending to use the funds for her partner's medical treatment. The store owner explained that custom-made lenses could not be returned or canceled. Unyielding, the woman launched a campaign against the business, filing complaints with the Consumer Protection Authority, which dismissed her claims, and filing lawsuits in small claims court and the Tel Aviv District Court, losing every legal challenge.
Google Reviews and Defamation Lawsuit
Alongside the formal legal proceedings, the couple published negative Google reviews, awarding the store a single star and calling the owner a 'fraudster' and a 'criminal' in front of other patrons. The store owner subsequently sued the couple for defamation over the online reviews and in-person verbal attacks.
Judge Guy Heyman ruled in favor of the plaintiff, stating that the accusations lacked truth and were made in bad faith. The court emphasized that calling someone a 'criminal' or a 'fraudster' in this context was presented as objective falsehoods rather than subjective opinions.
'The defendants formulated their publications as if they were facts. They did not attempt to present an opinion. 'Fraudster' in the context of these publications is not a feeling, and 'criminal' is not an opinion,' Judge Heyman noted in his ruling.
Heavy Financial Penalties
After considering the personal circumstances of the couple, the court ordered them to jointly pay ₪32,600 in damages and legal fees to the business owner, serving as a stark reminder of the legal boundaries surrounding online consumer reviews.
