defamation? — sharing my story

Looking for advice on this situation. Client Left 1-Star Review After Billing Dispute - Defamation? Is this as bad as I think?

Details: I'm in a situation where I need to understand my legal options. Has anyone dealt with something similar?

Always have a written engagement letter that clearly defines scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees. It protects both sides and prevents 90% of professional disputes.

Professional malpractice claims have shorter statutes of limitation than most people realize. In many states it's 1-2 years from discovery. Don't wait.

Always have a written engagement letter that clearly defines scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees. It protects both sides and prevents 90% of professional disputes.

The defamation analysis for online reviews is nuanced. Key distinctions:

• Opinion vs. fact: "This company is terrible" = protected opinion. "This company committed fraud" = actionable factual statement if false.
• Anti-SLAPP statutes: Many states (especially California under CCP § 425.16) have strong anti-SLAPP laws that can result in YOU paying the reviewer's attorney fees if your defamation suit is deemed meritless.
• CDA Section 230: You generally can't sue Google/Yelp for hosting the review.

For most small businesses, the best approach is: (1) respond professionally, (2) report the review to the platform if it violates their policies, (3) only pursue legal action if the false statements are causing significant, documentable financial harm.