Next review: "I wrote a review saying I didn't think their estimate was fair and they responded by demanding $10,000 and then suing me." Most powerful negative review ever.
@arga400
Жыл бұрын
"The lawsuit was thrown out for being a SLAP by the Colorado Court of Appeals" You gotta include that, I hate cliffhangers on comments and reviews lol
@lowermichigan4437
Жыл бұрын
This lawsuit is doing way more damage to the plumbing companies reputation than any review ever could
@Liam_Maddog
Жыл бұрын
I have been saying for years that the loser of a lawsuit should be required to pay the other party’s legal expenses. That would stop 80% of lawsuits. Of course the attorneys would fight such an idea with all their might. What do you think, Steve?
@joelmartin2549
Жыл бұрын
It’s called the Streisand effect!
@dr.barrycohn5461
Жыл бұрын
You might be right, but it could damage any business.
@jasonbourne1596
Жыл бұрын
Ifyou cannot leave a negative review thats true, there's zero point in having reviews.
@dand3953
Жыл бұрын
She literally got it SLAPPed out of court, so the order should automatically include her attorney's fees.
@martinhill486
Жыл бұрын
Company could have replied 'Thank you for your comments - we would like to point out our estimate was higher because [insert alleged facts from suit]. We hope that we could help you sometime in the future. That would have settled it in the eyes of most of not all future customers but instead they went full Richard head and sued so now we know more about the firm's mental process than they wanted.
@michaelsommers2356
Жыл бұрын
Exactly.
@ostlandr
Жыл бұрын
This. I saw a compilation of crazy reviews and the businesses' responses. One was "One star. We went to resturant on June 6th. Food was terrible, staff was rude, and restaurant was dirty." Business response: "This location did not open until June 20th. Not sure where you had this bad experience, but it wasn't at our restaurant." There were a ton of these, with businesses politely and respectfully ripping up the negative reviews.
@OptimiSkeptic
Жыл бұрын
Pointing out why their estimate was higher is still either avoiding taking responsibility for what they did wrong or continuing to exercise their incompetence. I'll skip right by any company that does that, and I've seen a lot of them. I have been in two types of service businesses in the last 30 years. The first of those was, in fact, plumbing and HVAC. The current one is software development and consulting. Both of them have the same prime principle, though: know your customer! You have to know what they can afford and what their real need is before you can propose a solution. Your primary service for your customer is to be the expert so that they don't have to be. The correct solution is the one that meets all of their needs, including their need for your service to be affordable to them.
@christophermoore7707
Жыл бұрын
It's called an estimate. That's all you have to reply. If she claimed that they tried to charge her, and it wasn't a bill, then that's what you sue over. If you feel you have no other recourse. I agree just typing a friendly reply that makes her look stupid would fix it all
@OptimiSkeptic
Жыл бұрын
@@christophermoore7707 That would be another admission of the company's incompetence. Her "stupidity" is the reason she called a plumber: because she's an idiot at plumbing, just like you and I are idiots at brain surgery/blacksmithing/Delphi programming/home wiring/all the millions of things that you and I are both such idiots about that our genuine expertise is insignificant in comparison. Every service business depends on "stupid" customers who don't know how to do what they do or don't have time to do it themselves. The successful ones know that fact, but they never say it and they do their best to satisfy their "stupid" customers to make sure they don't have to become experts who don't need them, or are at least smart enough to find a business that will satisfy them.
@Hatbox948
Жыл бұрын
If you can't handle honest reviews, don't ask for them.
@davidh9638
Жыл бұрын
If you can't handle honest reviews, do your business in some other country.
@adrianmizen5070
Жыл бұрын
she accused the plumber of "taking advantage of a single mom", which is a pretty serious accusation, and the plumber claims was factually incorrect. maybe the plumber is wrong, but that's why we have a trial.
@darthdaddy6983
Жыл бұрын
@@adrianmizen5070 Why does the plumber need to know her marital status ? Sounds like she could be laying it on thick
@OptimiSkeptic
Жыл бұрын
@DJ A review is to share a person's experience with a business. Somehow you've confused writing a review with signing a contract. How did you make that leap?
@RichardHeadGaming
Жыл бұрын
Yeah totally surprised they didn't just delete it like the shady company they are.
@CptBlackbeardlives
Жыл бұрын
I think everyone who files a frivolous lawsuit and loses should be forced to pay the defendant what they were suiing for plus all the defendants exspenses
@rabid123fox
Жыл бұрын
I agree but it’s difficult to argue when frivolous ends and begins
@ztoob8898
Жыл бұрын
@@rabid123fox A judge is well-qualified to make that call (or should be). In addition to the verdict, the judge could just add "The Court further finds this lawsuit to be frivolous; plantiff shall pay court costs and defendant's attorney fees." That's a statute I would vote for. We just need a good acronym...
@ItsDan123
Жыл бұрын
Judges can sometimes award that in egregious cases. It’s not necessarily good to make it automatic, it would be in as an individual how would you ever sue a large company. The risk of having to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages if you lose would turn most away.
@markrichards4042
Жыл бұрын
Plus the lawyer should be subject to sanctions.
@scottmcshannon6821
Жыл бұрын
any lawyers involved in a frivolous lawsuit should lose their license permanently.
@BlackJesus8463
Жыл бұрын
They should've explained the estimate in a reply and left it at that.
@windyswaim3832
Жыл бұрын
Exactly! They could have rebutted her post. Both sides told.
@martinlutherkingjr.5582
Жыл бұрын
Probably a boomer run company
@jwo7777777
Жыл бұрын
@@martinlutherkingjr.5582 ... with only lazy, woke Millennials for employees.
@tomparker9966
Жыл бұрын
If their estimate was legit their is nothing to explain. Sounds like they wanted to intimidate her into a retraction through threat of expensive legal action. If their business model wasn't built on overcharging for vague services then one bad review wouldn't hurt them. Usually a business has a chance to explain their side of a bad review. We need more people like he who are willing to stand up and be heard. Go girl I'm on your side.
@tomparker9966
Жыл бұрын
@@martinlutherkingjr.5582 Prejudice much? Your response says a lot about you.
@stevewilson6723
Жыл бұрын
The attempt to extort 10k from her was comical at best. If anything she was forced to take this to court, which escalated everything else. This was stupid on the company's part, to say the least. This was a case of someone getting greedy and thinking that the woman would just roll over.
@MarkIrwin02
Жыл бұрын
Not to mention they are causing far more harm to themselves then she ever could. As who is going to feel safe using them after this. Now customers will have to ask themselves is using this company worth them taking legal action against me for something they did themselves or some other stupid reason.
@2lefThumbs
Жыл бұрын
Yeah, the proper venue for response, imo would have been the FaceBook page itself🤷♂️ (rather than trying to beat her down in courr and invoke the Striesand effect)
@theoztreecrasher2647
Жыл бұрын
@@2lefThumbs Yep. But then they were just tradies. I know that regulations and standards have moved on from my younger days but you don't need a Degree from MIT to screw some pipes together these days, do you?
@jamesrowland9982
Жыл бұрын
In Israel one can be sued for bad reviews and the courts usually side with the business. The result is that people are wary of giving their opinion and if a customer has a complaint they have to hire a lawyer to write at least a letter.
@Tuttomenui
Жыл бұрын
She should update her review, hahaha.
@snapicvs
Жыл бұрын
The company really botched this one. Not only did they spend a small fortune suing a single mom only to lose, the Streisand effect and negative optics has no doubt cost them far more than the original post would ever have. The best response initially would have been to call the poster, apologize for any misunderstanding, explain the differences between their estimate and competing estimates, and then counter-post in a friendly tone with all the relevant facts.
@jeanettewaverly2590
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely. That’s what usually happens.
@larrybremer4930
Жыл бұрын
I should have read down more, I posted a nearly identical thought, and it should not have ever even escalated to a damages demand, yet that was where they went first. If there was a case for libel that is what they would have sued for.
@TEverettReynolds
Жыл бұрын
The small business could have used this to its advantage by highlighting its estimate's "quality" and "detail" and pointing out how the other firms missed all the code violations. I am getting work done on my house, and yes, new codes increased my estimate from 10 years earlier. They could have met with her again to review the quotes, or even get a copy of the cheaper quotes, then posted that side by side with the original. Instead, they went in the wrong direction.
@dekoldrick
Жыл бұрын
Yup. They probably did more damage to their own business than a single negative review could have done with this knee-jerk reaction.
@tjmarx
Жыл бұрын
They could have just done nothing. Who checks Facebook for a review before hiring a company. Google reviews, sure. Product Reviews sure, yelp maybe but not so much anymore, BBB sure ... Facebook page posts by customers? No dude, get real. All they had to do, was absolutely nothing at all. Heck, it's a Facebook page they could literally just delete the post if they really felt the need. Guaranteed, this is an already failing business run by someone without any business sense. Like one of those businesses you see on those shows like Ramsey's Hotel Nightmares, or that Tabitha takes over,..those kinds of shows. Only it's playing out in court in real time. Looking forward to the supreme court getting involved, get out the popcorn 🍿
@Not_Ferrari
Жыл бұрын
"We're a mom and pop shop and every dollar spent on this lawsuit doesn't go to bonuses, suing an actual mom for whom every dollar spent on this lawsuit doesn't go toward feeding, clothing, and providing enriching experiences for her actual children..."
@ed9492
Жыл бұрын
I wonder if it's mom or pop who actually signs the checks.
@spockamania
Жыл бұрын
@@ed9492pop does. Mom does all the work, but pop is insistent that he must be the one to sign and take credit.
@aquariusmirky
Жыл бұрын
"Mom and pop shop" with the aspiration to be the Father of Nations. How dare anyone unhappy have the audacity to tell people about it! The free for all of speech! and what do the pleb readers know about judging online reviews for themselves! Of course web browsers are mindless drone that need to be put on parental control to not see any negative energy! 🧸
@ianbattles7290
Жыл бұрын
If you could successfully sue someone just because they don't like you, I'd be a millionaire!!!
@christine_lovelace
Жыл бұрын
Lol😅
@jeromethiel4323
Жыл бұрын
I don't like you! WAIT!!!!!! Oh poop. I'll send you monies now... -_- ^-^
@mattstorm360
Жыл бұрын
I don't like that... guess i'll be the millionaire now.
@tomparker9966
Жыл бұрын
Ian if you could sue someone just because you didn't like them I would be bankrupt many times over. 😢
@MonkeyJedi99
Жыл бұрын
I'd be a billionaire once I stopped keeping my opinions to myself.
@chuckfrazier2007
Жыл бұрын
It sounds like the attorney representing the company is taking advantage of the company owner’s anger. The attorney wants this to drag out.
@christine_lovelace
Жыл бұрын
I'm an old widow and they try this crap all the time Not this company but alot of others
@idkjames
Жыл бұрын
Such frivolous legal activity. I hope she gets her legal fees paid.
@adrianmizen5070
Жыл бұрын
not frivolous at all. The company alleges that her review contained claims of fact, that were at the very least misleading (if not false) in a way that clearly hurt the reputation of the business. Whether it rises to the standard of defamation is questionable. In particular they would have to prove she acted with malice, which would be very hard in this kind of case. But anti-SLAPP was intended for completely meritless lawsuits, not merely difficult ones. I do think the business made a serious mistake demanding $10k initially as opposed to just asking her to take down the review.
@IkLms11
Жыл бұрын
@@adrianmizen5070 Only the business claims this. There is zero evidence of that at all. This is a textbook anti-SLAPP case.
@winstonwolf6791
Жыл бұрын
@@adrianmizen5070 You should have disclosed your obvious affiliation with the company. The court of appeals just said everything you posted is incorrect. Maybe the woman should sue you for misleading(if not false) claims. 😉
@bobchipman4473
Жыл бұрын
@@adrianmizen5070 Some would call that demand for $10k extortion.
@adrianmizen5070
Жыл бұрын
@@winstonwolf6791 steve said the court of appeals didn't publish an opinion, so i'm not sure how you would know what the court said or not. and maybe i should sue you for falsely claiming i am affiliated with the company too!
@donkedik7793
Жыл бұрын
What if someone were to leave a bad review for this company saying " Beware: this company will financially ruin you if you don't like their ridiculously over market value estimate"?
@LarryAllenTonar
Жыл бұрын
I think it needs to be phrased as an opinion.
@unbreakable7633
Жыл бұрын
The law has been for decades that businesses can engage in what is called "puffing" -- basically misrepresentations short of actual fraud in fact or constructive fraud -- and the courts called that mere opinion or sales talk. This is just the mirror image of that: the customer has an opinion to puff too and that's fair in a free market.
@BlackJesus8463
Жыл бұрын
Best BBQ in Texas!
@jasonbourne1596
Жыл бұрын
Puffing is lying though, misrepresented info.
@unbreakable7633
Жыл бұрын
@@jasonbourne1596 Puffing is less a lie than an exaggeration. Whatever you want to call it, the question is whether the lie actually induced the customer to part with money.
@jasonbourne1596
Жыл бұрын
@@unbreakable7633 O' I disagree. They can call it what they want, but it's a lie. If I say here's our cars and they got 600 horsepower when they actually only have 500, is that puffing? Is it a lie, is it both?
@fieryweasel
Жыл бұрын
I like the phrase "constructive fraud"
@darkmantlestudios
Жыл бұрын
They need to start making these cases published. Its a miscarriage of justice that this is not binding
@twbrandt
Жыл бұрын
All the company had to do was post a response on Facebook giving their side of the story.
@tsutl84
Жыл бұрын
A prior employer of mine demanded I remove a review I left about working for them on a job seekers website. They claimed my review was lies. I started nothing but facts about working there and left all emotion out of my review. They threatened to sue me for it after I told them no repeatedly. After the threat I simply told them to go for it and after I won I would counter-sue for defamation and harassment. Never heard a word from them again. Ironic how they gave up after being told that I would retaliate if they continued. They were just trying to scare me into doing what they wanted but knowing they couldn't win an actual case and that I 100% would win my case they dropped it. The thing is if someone sues you, ALWAYS counter-sue if you win. If they threaten you and you know you can win, tell them you will counter-sue for defamation and harassment. That's a guaranteed win for you if they move forward with it. If they drop it then you still win. Just make sure you can win! I know a guy who threatened me with legal action because he thinks I'm disrespectful and it hurt his feelings. That's not a winnable case for him. Don't be that idiot!
@thurmanluper5885
Жыл бұрын
I don’t know enough detail to have an opinion on this particular case but I can share my own story. I once gave an estimate on painting a house. Two exterior walls needed to be stripped or scraped and some rotted trim needed replaced so the estimate was a lot higher than the owner expected. They got a lower estimate but it didn’t include replacing rotten wood and some of the prep work I felt was needed. I explained I would not lower my estimate and would not paint over the rot. Nor would I paint without the proper prep work due to the fact they would be telling others who did the job. I didn’t get the work and they did speak bad of my “unfair high estimate”. But I didn’t feel I had a case to sue, just let my work speak for itself
@christophermoore7707
Жыл бұрын
Exactly. I don't know enough about it myself. Steve said the woman wrote in the review that they tried to charge her too much. If there was a reason to sue that would be it. It wasn't a bill, it was an estimate. I think responding to the review with a statement about not being comfortable doing a less than stellar job, And the costs involved, would have been better than a law suit.
@realbadger
Жыл бұрын
I like when a bad review is simply followed up by the company either apologizing and promising to Do Better, or (in cases of metaphorical Karen/Entitled Customer "reviews"), provide the facts the "review" omits (such as the customer demanding the impossible, behaviour unbecoming a normal mature adult, et al).
@jeromethiel4323
Жыл бұрын
The constitution has something to say about this. No court in the US should even hear a case like this. It is BS on the face of the suite.
@jeromethiel4323
Жыл бұрын
I will not do business with a company that doesn't have complaints against it. Every business makes mistakes, and people get pissed off about it. That's not lawsuit worthy, that's just opinion. I had a loan officer of a bank state that anybody without a few dings on their credit history, they would dig in further. Because, as he stated, every body has fun into issues and has some company complaining about it. If you don't see that, it makes you question that financial history.
@skippylippy547
Жыл бұрын
Jerome - There are two significant cases going on right now regarding this BS: 1. Budweiser Lite is suing former customers who are boycotting their product. 2. Ammon Bundy in Idaho for revealing how corrupt a major hospital system is.
@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith
Жыл бұрын
@@jeromethiel4323 Does having NO credit history (good or bad) equal a ding?
@jeromethiel4323
Жыл бұрын
@@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith oh yeah. They want you to have been a debt slave at some point. Debt free now, and plan to keep it that way.
@ysesq
Жыл бұрын
@@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith you cant have no credit history. SS numbers arent private and even if you havent borrowed money someone has used your SS to borrow in the past. run your credit report and see.
@chrispavin1373
Жыл бұрын
When a company bases its viability by how many love letters they get online about their services it just says that the company won't be in business for very long.
@quanqued
Жыл бұрын
Sadly, this is not true. For companies to show up in first page search results, reviews are critical for SEO to reach new customers. Doing good work and presenting yourself well are definitely the highest priority, but before you get a chance to do either of those things, new customers need to be able to find you. Current, highly rated, reviews are a major factor in how that happens. I've seen companies triple their monthly revenue just because they were able to get several new five star reviews that bumped them up in search results and resulted in more calls from new customers. These guys just happened to choose a really, really stupid way to try to manage their online presence. The stupidity here probably started when putting together their initial quote.
@CommanderRiker0
Жыл бұрын
The company could have simply replied to the review with an explanation.
@hookeye2
Жыл бұрын
I had four estimators try to B5 me, even after I told them I was a retired General Contractor, and had taught HVAC. (This was a hint that had already bid the job, as if I were a Contractor bidding the job. Costs: $14K-$16K) Their bids ranged $24K to 27K. The one whom I chose was $20K.
@capq57
Жыл бұрын
If they were so worried about being hurt by this lady's review, I can't imagine they are getting any good press out of suing her for it.
@thisorthat7626
Жыл бұрын
"There was a time when companies would get upset by people criticizing them..." Was? Still is, sadly. Interesting discussion, Steve. Thanks for posting this and for your commentary which is perfect!!
@jame3shook
Жыл бұрын
I recall an environmentalist (and adjacent property owner) was criticizing a development in an environmentally sensitive area in coastal VA in the early 1980s. The corporation sued him into silence, built their development and the forecasted environmental destruction happened. The government asked the property owner why didn't you say anything. The environmentalist/owner held up his court order not allowing him to say anything.
@Gulyus
Жыл бұрын
They WERE upset at people criticizing them...still are, but they were back then!"
@RayTheVideoGuy
Жыл бұрын
Companies should ALWAYS be upset when someone criticizes them. That's the motivation to do better
@michigangeezer3950
Жыл бұрын
Does that company REALLY like being right, or is this a "the process is the punishment" situation?
@brandonlink6568
Жыл бұрын
Many review sites give business owners an opportunity to write a reply to reviews so they can add their side to the story
@Robert-Wilson
Жыл бұрын
And many allowed the owner to remove the review. I’ve gave up on reviews any more to much shady stuff with reviews online any more
@theoztreecrasher2647
Жыл бұрын
Since this was posted on THEIR Facebook page, I guess that Facebook doesn't allow rebuttals??? 😱🙄😁
@Zandanga
Жыл бұрын
Yes, and I think this is the way it should be. I have seen several replies from the seller to review comments when considering items to buy at a large online marketplace. And I always appreciate this.
@kellytrimble4120
Жыл бұрын
Charging the customer when they make a bad review is called an anti-disparagement clause. Motels will do that a lot. You post a bad review on a travel site and they simply charge your credit card (they have your number still). There have been some real horror stories out there about it. Seriously, you should do a video about it sometime. Sometimes those are ruled unenforceable because they are contracts of adhesion.
@KabobHope
Жыл бұрын
I had no clue. This sounds right up LL's alley.
@Skank_and_Gutterboy
Жыл бұрын
If a hotel did that with me, I'd go right to my credit card's fraud-control people and dispute the charge. Then I'd go to the AG's website and submit a formal fraud complaint. I don't care where their paperwork says, "We can charge your credit card if you post a negative review." That's not even legal. It's also credit card fraud when they hit your credit card.
@larrybremer4930
Жыл бұрын
why its best to hold off on that review for a few months so it would clearly be provable as a punitive charge over the review if it followed months after your stay.
@boataxe4605
Жыл бұрын
How about paying in cash?
@TEverettReynolds
Жыл бұрын
@@Skank_and_Gutterboy > "We can charge your credit card if you post a negative review." That's not even legal If you agree to it, it's legal. Sorry, that is how contract law works. Don't sign contracts you don't agree with.
@TheKnifed
Жыл бұрын
Did he say that stuff about bonuses and uniforms while under oath? I can't imagine that would be a great idea, pretty easy to get a disgruntled ex employee to prove otherwise and then you've lied under oath
@silver6054
Жыл бұрын
It sounded more like a press release type thing, but why is it false? Didn't he say every dollar spent on the lawsuit is a dollar they can't spend on bonuses, upgrades and uniforms? That sounds true! (Of course, the solution is that they shouldn't be spending it on the lawsuit)
@RicardoSantos-oz3uj
Жыл бұрын
@@silver6054 People don't like bullies. And that company acted as one. Hopefully they go out of business.
@tekcomputers
Жыл бұрын
@@silver6054 Yep, that just reads like "Well, we could have given you guys bonuses, but we decided to spend the money suiting a single mother for writing a bad review." I can imagine the employee morale is high at this business.
@silver6054
Жыл бұрын
@@RicardoSantos-oz3uj Of course, I am not defending the company. But I am saying stating that there was "a lie under oath" doesn't make much sense no matter how much you hate a bully.
@Dwayne-mb2uj
Жыл бұрын
I filed a lawsuit re lack of services being provided to my child for a disability and the president of the teachers union sent me a letter with the threat of using the SLAP laws in Ca because I named the person who did the testing in my claim and he said that was improper . The thing was the woman said to me "if you don`t agree with my testing SUE ME!". The end result was that the teachers union president was removed from his post and I got my services for my child.
@iLife64
Жыл бұрын
As someone who is a truthful Google Maps Local Guide, I always fear getting sued for a poor review
@lynchkid003
Жыл бұрын
Same
@TheQuickSilver101
Жыл бұрын
Every time I hear about a case like this I question my local guide status
@selfdo
Жыл бұрын
Then PERFORM. If the opinion of your services is negative, ask yourself WHY.
@AHDBification
Жыл бұрын
@@selfdo OP is a reviewer, not an owner.
@sashamoore9691
Жыл бұрын
How would they be able to track you down? Lol freedom of speech
@pinkfreud62
Жыл бұрын
I know Judge Judy says online reviews are legal. She says if you're on the internet, you're open to opinions & experiences - good or bad. That's the chance you take. Like when someone hires a caterer and uses them the whole time but isn't happy with their service. JJ says they "ate the steak" and can't sue, but they can leave an honest, negative review to warn others.
@tomparker9966
Жыл бұрын
Well if Judge Judy says it then it must be right. But we spent a week humiliating Brett Kavanaugh over 30 year old unreliable testimony with no corroboration and some people still believe his accuser without proof. This is how much our legal system has failed. Public opinion is more important than truth and legal prescedent.
@JL-kf8mw
Жыл бұрын
Please leave your bs elsewhere. Kavanaugh had a history of poor behavior and his only humiliation was due to his own behavior. Grow up.
@nunyabizniz9999
Жыл бұрын
@@tomparker9966 Would that be the same Brett Kavanaugh who lied to the senate, saying that he "considered Roe v Wade settled" and then voted to overturn it? I consider that plenty of proof of lack of integrity! And then there's crying like a little b***h during confirmation hearings... Yeah go to bat for that piece of refuse🙄
@joanfregapane8683
Жыл бұрын
@@tomparker9966 ummm…Kavanaugh wasn’t pursued enough as other accusers weren’t investigated at all. His judicial background was bad enough to keep him off the court even without the harassment allegations, but the process was rigged enough that neither was fully investigated.
@RicardoSantos-oz3uj
Жыл бұрын
@@tomparker9966 That was a WWF moment betweeen the 2 branches of the uniparty so that he wasn't question about his involvement on the creation of the Patriot Act. Is an old trick. And you, and the majority of americans, fell to it.
@jasonwomack4064
Жыл бұрын
This sounds like the usual "mom n pop" plumbing company with dozens of flashy trucks, that are constantly in trouble for fleecing elderly people. Every region of the country seems to have one of these outfits.
@joshfly210
Жыл бұрын
This is why people should let their attorneys talk for them instead of themselves because they’re throwing legal words out not really understanding their meanings.
@markdsm-5157
Жыл бұрын
This is the Streisand Effect at work. If they just let it go that review would have been buried under tons of other reviews by now.
@theoztreecrasher2647
Жыл бұрын
Yep. I don't read American Plumber's reviews but I do occasionally check Trip Advisor reviews of some place/venue/feature that I might have been interested in visiting during my traveling days. I always invert the reviews and start reading from the 1 star ratings. Sometimes there are heaps so the place is obviously the pits but often there are only a few and the things that are being complained about are so dumb and hilarious that it's well worth the reading time. As are the responses of the owners/operators - if they have any brains! 😉😁
@FalconEagleEye7
Жыл бұрын
Steve GREAT Job need more Shows like THIS THANK YOU !!!
@superdivemaster
Жыл бұрын
I just looked it up ... Google says: 32 States have any-slapp laws on the books ... Good Video !!!
@panhandlersparadise1733
Жыл бұрын
Thanks, Steve, you just inspired a new marketing campaign for my business: "My services are no better or worse than theirs, but I promise not to sue when you leave a bad review about me."
@boikatsapiens499
Жыл бұрын
Ben tucked between the first two OED vol's on the left.
@forpublicsafety
Жыл бұрын
All they needed to do was respond to the review and explain that the quote included more work than the others. Sheesh
@Bob-Lob-Law
Жыл бұрын
All the other companies could have been lowballs. Then once the work started they would uncover extra work which in reality would make the total more than the original estimate from the other company
@Jezze2
Жыл бұрын
LOL!! "There's this thing called the internet. They've got it on computers now."
@j.l.m.6862
Жыл бұрын
However, if the data input or the programs are incorrect, then the resultant result will be inaccurate.
@FUGP72
Жыл бұрын
I can't imagine how this could have possibly gone worse for the company. 1. The lawsuit made sure FAR more people knew about his bad review than if it was just on their Facebook page. (And they could have responded with their explanation/excuses to that review) 2. It is costing them all that money that could have gone to bonuses or new uniforms. 3. They may be forced to pay her legal fees. and 4. They got hit so hard that they had to take down their Facebook page. So potential lost business there.
@RichardHeadGaming
Жыл бұрын
As a business owner the only competition or reputation you will ever get is based on or directly you and what you do.
@donkedik7793
Жыл бұрын
Smith Plumbing out of Colorado Springs is the company in question. I think the owner spends all her time responding to 1 star reviews.
@HighLordBaron
Жыл бұрын
Honestly, lawsuits like this need to be more discouraged by enacting massive fines. Most people can't find enough money to defend themselves. A company or rich person can muster enough money to drag out a lawsuit quite a while. Go from court to court, racking up the costs for the defendants until they just can't afford to fight anymore. So we need to government to step in and make sure fraudulent lawsuits like this have extreme consequences
@spacemissing
Жыл бұрын
Well... "the government" consists largely of individuals with minds like an attorney's and friends who are attorneys. I hope you can see where this is going.
@RicardoSantos-oz3uj
Жыл бұрын
On some countries the fines are adjusted. If the purpose is correction and not punishment. Someone earning 50k a year shouldn't be required to pay the same as someone earning 50 million a year. The fine should be adjusted. But the money shouldn't go to the city, police or courts. Instead they should be held in a trust for victims of crime (so people that are affected by crime can get the help they need).
@zzzzoot
Жыл бұрын
The company in question is Smith Plumbing and Heating in Colorado Springs
@lowermichigan4437
Жыл бұрын
They have many 1 star reviews for being over priced. Why sue just this one person
@DocSpengler
Жыл бұрын
They really did the "smol bidness pls understandru" defense. God im tired of small businesses using excuses to not match other companies
@RicardoSantos-oz3uj
Жыл бұрын
Yes, specially a service business. I can understand a small supermarket as they don't have the buying power to buy in bulk. (altough they could if they let go their pride and joined a cooperative of small business). But there is no reason why service business should be more expensive just because they are smaller.
@phaedruscj3330
Жыл бұрын
And I always thought SLAPP were lawsuits used by governments against citizens exercising their various rights to hold governments accountable. Learned something new today.
@nowavenyone
Жыл бұрын
I'm so glad I found your channel... This information is priceless...
@tomparker9966
Жыл бұрын
Steve I watch your channel and you seem like a honest and reasonable thinking attorney. My comment is not directed at you. Our legal system has been perverted and left most people without the protection of their rights by attorneys who have made legal defense unavailable to them because of the cost. Being right or being innocent is now directly related by how much you are willing to spend. The justice system is not designed to find the truth. Most lawyers drag a case out forever but do very little work to justify their outrageous bill. I just did battle with an estate executor attorney who billed for 10 meetings with the clerk of court over how to distribute $7000. It was spelled out in the will to divide between 2 prior estates which had to be reopened. He sent me a bill because $7000 didn't cover his bill. He delayed resolution for 2 years to make it look like he had to research the law. At $500/ hr I expected him to simply follow the wills instruction and cut 2 checks. State law gave me 5% of the estate I managed. It would have cost me another $7000 to take him to court. Justice is for sale to the highest bidder. Look at the high profile cases in the news today where the guilty defendants are telling the judge what sentence they are willing to serve or they will mount another multi-million dollar appeal that the state can't afford. We have the best legal system that money will buy.
@basillah7650
Жыл бұрын
Any court that allows bs lawsuits to go to trial need to be torn down and the people working them thrown in jail for life people should not have to waste time going because if they don't they auto lose even though scammers with no case making them entitled judges throwing a hissing fit because people actually have better things to do so letting the scammers win which is why these bs lawsuits keep happening.
@arga400
Жыл бұрын
The judge made the decision to allow the lawsuit to continue, not the clerks or bailiffs, lets not punish them for the actions of the judge.
@saigyl9149
Жыл бұрын
if they were a mom & pop business then they wouldn't have sued a single mom for her opinion
@tlak
Жыл бұрын
The lady should have had a counter suit going for expenses. While there may have been code violations the other companies probably took it in stride and doing a proper installation they would be rectified naturally. Like too small or wrong cut off switch, when they're going to put in a new one anyway. That butt hurt company probably charges like our local Dodge dealer. They don't charge for a engine scan they charge by how many codes come up. So they're playing the scanner lottery machine.
@tlak
Жыл бұрын
@Richard Cranium Since it was several repairs we don't know if it was plumbing or A/C, I just gave an example. So if she had 5 companies out and four were close to each other, there probably wasn't code violation or a minor number. The companies aren't going to expand past their job and go to replacing a circuit breaker box or outside sewer line without informing the homeowner.
@88COR88
Жыл бұрын
It never stops surprising me how cowardly judges can be. They like being little kings in their kingdoms and will punish any who question them, while at the same time doing everything they can to not be held accountable for their decisions or actions.
@maxpsidt1390
5 ай бұрын
If i don't see any bad reviews then i immediately would deam those review sections "Rigged". In which i really stay away from, they've lied to you already,. No need to do business any furthur unless you want to be lied to.
@Elliandr
Жыл бұрын
If I read an online review stating that one company bid twice as much as another company I wouldn't think much of it since it's normal for different companies to have different ways of doing things, but if I then found that that the company tried charging someone the value of that difference for talking about their experience that's when I'd form a negative opinion about their company. The only one damaging their reputation is themselves. To give a personal example: In my town I shopped around for a new kitchen. One company bid $25,000 for the job. Another company bid $10,000 for the job. I know that although the style would be similar, each company has contracts with different companies that fabricate the counters and such and different people are paid different rates for what they do. That's why it's important to get comparative bids and to actually look at what they do. In my case, the $25,000 bid would only take a month whereas the $10,000 job would take 6 months. The more expensive job was also slightly better quality materials. Regardless, the point is that there is a difference. Even plumbing jobs can have a difference. This is why I wouldn't be moved by a review that only talks about cost. It's common, it's normal, and that alone isn't enough for me to form an opinion. What gets me to form an opinion is what the company actually does. Doing things like trying to manipulate reviews by threatening a take down in and of itself would get me to question the value of any reviews I could see while trying to charge $10,000 as a fee for leaving an honest review is exactly the kind of conduct that would cause me to believe that they are too expensive.
@dennisberman4640
Жыл бұрын
Great story Steve! Thanks.
@davefranklin4136
Жыл бұрын
I would hope she posted something to the Better Business Bureau. I will never use Facebook, even with a gun to my head, but I do check the BBB.
@rankothefiremage
Жыл бұрын
I hope Michigan gets an anti-SLAPP when the new legislature has a chance since we spent 40 with a large old rock blocking progress
@madaknevarski6478
Жыл бұрын
it's not a good look for a company to go after a bad review poster, they should have simply replied to her post saying they were sorry she felt that way but they were still fair with their estimate, then list everything they included in the estimate plus the remedial work..........unless ofc they really were trying to rip her off.
@RicardoSantos-oz3uj
Жыл бұрын
Even if they were trying to rip her of. (which is likely the case). That would have sounded better than "We want to extort 10k from you. And force you to shut up".
@Badger1949
Жыл бұрын
Too many lawyers + too many laws = confusion and lawsuits. This adds to the failing of our Country
@theoztreecrasher2647
Жыл бұрын
Yep. Things were so much better when folks just met in the street at High Noon to settle their differences with finality! 😜😉
@joelincz8314
8 ай бұрын
Seems unfair for her to still having to pay the cost to get it tossed out, her lawyer etc. Especially people who don't have that money will likely think twice before leaving a bad review.
@iggyrlk
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for pointing out a statute that Idaho doesn't have yet.
@cplmpcocptcl6306
Жыл бұрын
I’m glad they asked for her to remove the review AND $10,000. That’s the only way this will stop.
@jhill4874
Жыл бұрын
Definitely a SLAPP suit. The company should have replied to the lady's post, stating the "facts" that the company's lawyer said about reason for the estimate..
@ianbelletti6241
Жыл бұрын
Maybe they need to put more detail into their estimates as to why the additional charges. They also might have been able to get her to change her review if they had broken down the estimate more thoroughly to settle her concerns. This definitely sounds like a lawsuit that would fall under slapp.
@mileshigh1321
Жыл бұрын
Dunderhead owner spending so much time on a negative review is actually drawing more attention to how stupid his suit is! I bet loss of business will follow!
@theboyx323
Жыл бұрын
replaced all my front end parts on my truck and went to a supposed reputable mechanic shop to get it aligned. They kept my truck for a few hours to do a once over before doing the alignment... then called us to come get the truck. They didn't do the alignment because they where gonna have to do $2000 dollars of work to replace my new parts, told them to pound sand and did a dirty alignment on it myself. It's been driving straight for the last 2 years.
@FarmManRan
Жыл бұрын
I was sued by a company out of Branson Missouri because I wrote a Trip Advisor review. Not only was I sued, but my daughter and farm were as well. $80,000 and 18 months later the case was dismissed on summary judgment. The attorney, law firm, and officers of the LLC that filed the meritless suit tried to bully us and run us out of money. Typical SLAPP behavior. One of the owners answered questions in his deposition that he didn't know who his phone service provider was, stupid stuff like that. Unfortunately, the USA is a pay your own way judicial system, so you don't get costs and attorney fees if the other party loses. We had to file a countersuit after the case was dismissed. We sued the business, it's officers, the attorney and law firm handling the case, and while I can't discuss the monetary amount of the settlement, let's just say i was very pleased. Seems law firms get scared when their poor behaviors may become public knowledge in open court. To learn more Google bigfoot on the strip vs winchester
@dr.barrycohn5461
Жыл бұрын
An interesting segment steve. I say as I wait for a plumber to give me an estimate. I got a couple of locals and a big box plumber. Waiting to see how the estimates turn out.
@troy8485
Жыл бұрын
Online opinion. Scary when people are advised of your overcharging. .. Then charge a fairer price than your competition- it's how the world works.
@davebigdog
Жыл бұрын
There's a reason I will use "In my opinion" When saying something about someone or company I think using that phrase helps out tremendously
@ivechang6720
Жыл бұрын
Love your posts. You help expose the illogical in our society.
@blockisle9
Жыл бұрын
You don’t need to bring things up to current code unless that particular violation is the thing being worked on.
@kennethstaszak9990
Жыл бұрын
Benjamin trying to get more educated by reading the higher volumes of the OED!
@davekramer4266
Жыл бұрын
"FEDERAL LAW of December 2016, Signed by Obama", "Gag Clauses and the Right to Grip". The Consumer Review Fairness Act.. Protect Online Reviews From From Contractual Censorship..
@davidsmyth5770
Жыл бұрын
Ben to Steve's left side besides the low flying owl sign.
@Mark_Agamotto1313_Smith
Жыл бұрын
It's the "Low Flying Aircraft" sign, the owl sign is up, and to the other side. And, are you using HIS left, or our left?
@skaterlover1999
Жыл бұрын
Consumer Review Fairness Act...they simply need to get over it! However, thank you so much Steve for mentioning the anti-slap rule!! You just helped me remember this! I'm being targeted by CA's DMHC for speaking out against their fraudulent and misleading practices. They have retaliated against me and have threatened me with legal remedies for advocating and my desire to empower medi-cal recipients to have the know-how to advocate for themselves.
@RayTheVideoGuy
Жыл бұрын
I had a payroll company that we left, because they had made some pretty major errors on a couple of occasion, and were very rude when we tried to get it fixed. So, I left a negative review, and gave very true and specific reasons. The next day, they had multiple employees leave my company a bunch of 1-star reviews, when NONE of them had ever been to my business. The things they mentioned were 100% made-up. Fortunately, the president of the company was not happy about those reviews, and he had them remove the reviews.... I updated my bad review, documenting that their employees did this. I did mention that the president fixed the issue
@BrianDavis-no6gy
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Steve
@stolman2197
Жыл бұрын
As a multiple land use advocate SLAPP lawsuits should be getting filled against environmental groups now.
@osogrande2
Жыл бұрын
I hope the people that filed the suit against the woman were forced to pay attorneys fees and court costs.
@emsdodson
Жыл бұрын
Great insight and explanation(s). I throughly enjoyed this content. Thank you for the education.
@brianselt291
Жыл бұрын
I purchased a rental (900 sq ft) property and requested three quotes to install gutter guards. Two quotes were around $1100 and one (a nationwide commercial company) was $26,000! Yes, $26,000! I still laugh about that one.
@TBL_stevennelson
Жыл бұрын
They could have as a business made there case in public to show there quote was good. That would have helped people understand the type of business and quality they offer.
@gervanwilliams1409
Жыл бұрын
Awesome case to present, Steve. The argument put forth by this mom and pop business tells me that they’re operating in the days before the internet, and under-estimate how quick and easy it is to do comparative shopping. These over-inflated quotes happen all the time by small businesses because they can’t compete with the larger companies and are trying to make up slow business with higher prices. I suggest they merge with another business and compete with size. In any case, nice to see you break this down.
@FrostyFrostySnow
Жыл бұрын
Companies need to be open to genuine criticism. With enough customers there will always be one who's unhappy but in a good business that should be greatly outweighed by customers with positive opinions.
@spikey2740
Жыл бұрын
If a Court, especially Appeals, doesn't want anyone to question/understand their reasoning in a case, they should get into another line of business.
@Jmatt455
Жыл бұрын
It's their website. They can put up a rebuttal. "Have you seen the internet?" Hilarious!
@borgranta61103
Жыл бұрын
I hope they do appeal it to the Supreme Court that way it can become binding precedent and that businesses gets shafted by every other business for their trouble
@betterwithrum
Жыл бұрын
If anyone is curious, these states have anti-slapp laws: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Minnesota previously passed an anti-SLAPP law, but it was struck down as unconstitutional, and Washington D.C. (not a state as hard as they may try) have anti-slapp laws. Washington and Texas have particulars about there's that I don't understand, but they at least have some protections.
@John-Wolfe
Жыл бұрын
All judge rulings should be "for publication" unless they write a solid explanation that makes sense to not publish
@robertmcnearny9222
Жыл бұрын
They have disabled their Facebook now.
@sealight78
Жыл бұрын
Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation = SLAPPP It's a straightforward acronym
@Scrappygymrat
Жыл бұрын
I had public storage threaten me about an honest review. They needed to cut my lock off and tried to extort me by cutting the lock off to take down my review. No I’m not changing my review on you doing what’s right …. I ended up calling corporate and getting a formal apology but still insane what people think they can get away with
@MikeBrown-ii3pt
Жыл бұрын
I love reading on-line reviews, some of them are so obviously fake and/or biased, that they're comical. In this case, the review was based on an estimate. An estimate is just that and, isn't a contract so, the woman wasn't obligated to accept it. The problem seems to have occurred when the company apparently tried to extort her for$10k. That's where the line was crossed in my opinion. One other thing though...if you get 1 estimate for $20k and a bunch of others for $10k, it's time to start researching the companies giving the estimates, the work to be completed and the products to be used. The lowest estimate is seldom the best choice.
@adrianmizen5070
Жыл бұрын
Asking for damages in response to defamation is not extortion. Whether it is defamation or not was for the original court to decide, but now the appeals court came out with this ludicrous ruling about SLAPP to prevent that. The company had reasonable argument that it was defamation, albeit one that would be difficult to prove.
@j.l.m.6862
Жыл бұрын
I have shopped at a prominent online retailer, I read the reviews. Most (not all) top reviews were found to be promotion. Most (not all) negative reviews found to be defamation. So, I try to read all those reviews, however, most 5 star and 1 star reviews are suspect of veracity.
@MikeBrown-ii3pt
Жыл бұрын
@@j.l.m.6862 The 5 star and 1 star reviews are usually the funniest ones.
@MikeBrown-ii3pt
Жыл бұрын
@@adrianmizen5070 Maybe "extort" was the wrong word to use but, the way I understood what was said in the video, the company tried to make her pay them $10k and remove the review before any legal action was taken. To me, that's (attempted) extortion.
@adrianmizen5070
Жыл бұрын
@@MikeBrown-ii3pt that happens all the time. "You caused us X dollars in damages. Pay us or we sue you." Not extortion at all. By your logic, if a hotel guest damages the hotel room, and the hotel sends the guest a bill for the damage with the threat of a lawsuit if they don't pay, that's extortion.
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