Civil smackdown! The ACLU has rushed to the defense of two dozen renters who posted anonymous unsavory commentary about Parkmerced and Stellar Larkspur properties in San Francisco and Larkspur on apartmentratings.com. Parkmerced and Stellar claim the posts were "false and misleading" and are seeking subpoenas for the identities of the commenters. Neither company has yet to satisfy the burden of proof with evidence that the comments -- which ripped the companies for the usual wrongs, from upped utility fees to loud construction noise to good old incompetence -- have actually damaged their business. Could this mean an end to nasty Yelp backlash, or will that pesky First Amendment prevail?
· Motion filed by ACLU and Public Citizen [Citizen.org]
Filed under:
Loading comments...