Woman's Tweet Draws Landlord Lawsuit

[[THANATOS].Shiver-]

Aaaand the twitter lawsuits begin. But what exactly is a "tweet"? Is it really capable of being "sue-worthy"?

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Quote:Who knew less than 140 characters could potentially cost more than $50,000, in the form of a defamation lawsuit?

That's something Amanda Bonnen is discovering the hard way.

In May, the Chicago resident did what many of Twitter's millions of users do--she tweeted a complaint. Specifically, she tweeted THIS complaint:
offending tweet.JPG

Today, Horizon Group Management filed a lawsuit against her, alleging that her statement damaged the company's business reputation.

According to the complaint filed in Cook County court today, Bonnen "maliciously and wrongfully published the false and defamatory Tweet on Twitter, thereby allowing the Tweet to be distributed throughout the world."

Bonnen has 20 followers on Twitter.

What intrigues me about this lawsuit is a number of things:

1) I knew it was coming. I KNEWWW the Twitter suits were coming, and I like that this proves I'm psychic.

2) It begs this question: What IS a tweet anyway? Is it really considered publishing? Is it a conversation between friends in a public forum, like the electronic version of a coffeeshop, where you can gripe privately but have your gripes overheard? No one considers that defamation. And for that matter, does anyone actually claim that one-liners on Twitter are truth? After all, when you tweet, you type into a text box that asks, "What are you doing?" So what does an assertion on Twitter count for, anyway? Isn't it just an opinion? Isn't it stream of consciousness? Isn't it called a Twitter "stream" for a reason?

3) And plenty of companies these days are using the public discussion on Twitter to their advantage. Comcast is one that jumps to mind. I have friends who've had their Comcast complaints resolved over Twitter, and it all began with a 140-character complaint issued over Twitter. So it's interesting to note different companies' reactions to their customers' usage of social media. Some engage and fix the problems, and some decide that apparently, it is a more efficient use of company time, money, and (hu)manpower to sue over 140 words that got beamed out to 20+ followers.

Of course, it's not hard to guess what I think about the whole situation. What do YOU think?

Read the complaint if you're interested - Twitter lawsuit.pdf

UPDATED: Rounding up the buzz... Will one Chicago woman's Tweet cost her $50,000?

Amanda Bonnen's Twitter account has been closed. This morning I got a call from WGN radio, asking about how to get in touch with her. So Amanda, if you're reading, a lot of people out there are interested in hearing your take on the situation. Anyone out there who knows how to get in touch with her, feel free shoot me an email or, for that matter, a tweet.

I never expected the story to heat up as fast as it has, but we've got bloggers weighing in left and right; Tribune columnist Eric Zorn has shared his thoughts on the lawsuit. Chicago Breaking News, WGN-TV, CBS2, Windy Citizen, the Sun-Times, Huffington Post all have picked up on what's happening.

What I'm hearing generally from your comments on this blog and the comments I've scanned and read is that the company seems to have heaped on itself more bad press from its handling of the lawsuit than from Amanda's original tweet.

I don't have a twitter because I think they're pointless, but this... wow. Thoughts?

[[THANATOS].Sneye.GT]

Simple thought on this. People need to grow the fuck up, and get a life. This correlates with the freedom of speech thing mentioned above. If she had a problem with her landlord and/or the way he does business, she should have EVERY right to express her thoughts on the issue. No, I haven't read the pdf file, too damn lazy. But if I feel that my home town football team sucks, I have EVERY right to say so, and I have. If I used my face, or your tube, or tweeter, or any of that other crap, and the football team came up or crossed my mind, I'd be posting that they suck. Would I be worried about getting sued? FUCK NO! It's my damn opinion, and thankfully, I have a right to it. Not everyone has to like it or agree with it, that's they're choice. It's called having your own opinion and having the freedom to say what you feel. Fucking lawyers should have that court case jammed up their ass.

BTW. Hamilton Ti-Cats suck! B-)

[[THANATOS].Wolvie]

I don't know what Twitter is, but after reading her comment, I would not want to live in Horizon Group housing. People need to think twice about what they post/write on the super serious internet.

Sue.

[[THANATOS].Metal]

MEH.

[[THANATOS].Teo]

[THANATOS Wrote:.Wolvie"]I don't know what Twitter is, but after reading her comment, I would not want to live in Horizon Group housing. People need to think twice about what they post/write on the super serious internet.

Sue.

indeed, internet is seerus busness and the sooner ppl learn the sooner i can sleep

[[THANATOS].-Hades]

Gonna get tossed out.

Fuck twitter.

[Spluff]

You publish stupid shit that can be directly attributed to you, there's a chance you'll get into trouble.

[[THANATOS].-Hades]

[THANATOS Wrote:.Spluff"]You publish stupid shit that can be directly attributed to you, there's a chance you'll get into trouble.

She didn't say anything that should get her sued for such an amount. Like seriously at most she should just have to apologize.

[[THANATOS].Metal]

If someone says, "Don't see ______ movie, it sucks," or "Don't eat at _____ there was a dead roach in my food," they don't have to pay for somebody else messing up.

I think Horizon owes HER the apology.

[Spluff]

[THANATOS Wrote:.-Hades"]

[THANATOS Wrote:.Spluff"]You publish stupid shit that can be directly attributed to you, there's a chance you'll get into trouble.

She didn't say anything that should get her sued for such an amount. Like seriously at most she should just have to apologize.

I don't think it's possible or practical to sue somebody just for an apology. Obviously the comment didn't deserve a lawsuit, but it's what happens in the real world.

[[THANATOS].Wolvie]

I don't think

[THANATOS Wrote:.Metal"] "Don't see ______ movie, it sucks," or "Don't eat at _____ there was a dead roach in my food,"

is the same as

Quote:Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it's okay.

because of the part in bold.

But I understand what you are getting it.

[[THANATOS].-Hades]

[THANATOS Wrote:.Wolvie"]I don't think

[THANATOS Wrote:.Metal"] "Don't see ______ movie, it sucks," or "Don't eat at _____ there was a dead roach in my food,"

is the same as

Quote:Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it's okay.

because of the part in bold.

But I understand what you are getting it.

I still think the nature of the comments is similar, if not the same.

[[THANATOS].Atomic]

Like Hades said, gonna get tossed.