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VIENNA -- A local business has filed a lawsuit against a Columbus woman, alleging that reputational harm was caused because of false statements in a review published online earlier this year.
The complaint by Vienna-based Starr Manufacturing Inc., filed in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court on Thursday morning, claims that Julie Watson "falsely and maliciously" made claims that the company had quality and manufacturing failures with multiple customers.
The review was published to the company's Google Business Profile, a tool that allows business owners to manage how their company shows up in searches and in Google Maps, in March.
Watson's review, still active, is one of the company's 13 Google reviews prior to the suit's filing.
The lawsuit states that state and county residents viewed, read and believed Watson's allegations, and as a direct result, Starr Manufacturing has suffered significant reputational harm and special damages.
"Plaintiff Starr Manufacturing Inc. is informed and believes and alleges thereon that unless enjoined and restrained, Defendant will continue to post and/or publish the false and malicious allegations in the Review on the Internet." the lawsuit states. "Such infringement and violation of Plaintiff's rights will continue to cause Plaintiff damage, for which there is no adequate remedy at law."
In the first count, defamation and defamation per se, Starr Manufacturing claims Watson knew the statements she made about the company were false and/or demonstrated "reckless disregard for the truth," acting with actual malice, which led to the damages.
The second count, defamation by implication, is constituted because Watson allegedly made the inference that other individuals have experience and know about the quality of product stated in her review.
Starr Manufacturing is seeking actual and compensatory damages and punitive damages, in an amount exceeding $25,000, as well as attorney fees and litigation costs.