An employee of a Quincy, Massachusetts, jewelry store has to pay $34,500 after writing a negative Yelp review of a rival store.
The Patriot Ledger reported Adam Jacobs, an employee of Toodie's Fine Jewelry, wrote a multi-paragraph review on the user-generated business review website about a bad experience he claimed he had at Stephen Leigh Jewelers.
The Associated Press reported that Jacobs wrote in the August 2013 review that while shopping for a 1.- carat diamond engagement ring, he had a bad experience and told readers to "go elsewhere."
The December 2013 lawsuit filed by Stephen Leigh Jewelers owner Stephen Blumberg said the review was fabricated. Blumberg said the review from Jacobs caused him emotional distress.
He said that he determined Jacobs wrote the review when calling other businesses that a user named “Adam J.” had reviewed.
“I did do research for several months,” Blumberg told The Patriot Ledger. “I knew after two or three that I was right on the target.”
Blumberg also sued Toodie’s, which is owned by Jacob’s father, for ruining his reputation, but it was not found to be at fault.
The decision was issued March 22.
About the Author
