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Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

The Observation Deck — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:20:43 -0000

Your statements have shown two things: 1) You don't know anything about law and 2) You apparently don't know anything about public relations. Horizon will be laughed out of court for the lack of merit in their case and they will probably get hit with a SLAPP for filing a retaliatory lawsuit without even talking to the defendant prior to suing. Plus the bad press and damage to their reputation they are receiving for their stupid comments would make it impossible to prove damages by Amanda Bonnen EVEN if the case had merit (which it does not). Try doing your homework before posting such silly responses. I couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes after I read yours.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Marty Couch — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:10:03 -0000

It's amazing that Horizon can explain the "We're a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization" as "tongue and cheek" yet a single post on twitter is worth $50,000.00 in damages to them. I certainly don't want to call them stupid or irresponsible, because that could get me sued. So, for the record, they are not stupid or irresponsible. We'll just continue to let their actions prove that, shall we?

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

NeilCardiff — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:41:35 -0000

What an idiotic thing to say.
No way do they want this negative attention, it will severely hit their business.
Try thinking before you speak as you just make yourself look silly.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Mike — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:01:19 -0000

There is nothing in the RLTO to "manipulate." The fact that Horizon refers to the RLTO as "controversial" really shows their true colors here. Thanks to the RLTO, which clearly lays out the rights of tenants and the responsibilities of landlords, I and many of my friends have gotten back the full amount of my security deposit from shady landlords who tried to withhold all or part of it arbitrarily. Compared to most big cities, Chicago is a landlord's paradise with no rent controls and only a handful of tenant rights. The fact that Horizon's being a crybaby over a provision in the RLTO is laughable. Is Horizon going to sue every commenter on Yelp now?

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Keith Lambert — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:31:38 -0000

How does a real estate management firm protect it's self from trouble seeking tenants? Lets face it, some tenants are hard on the owner/management too. I've had my share. Seems Horizon Realty went over the top. But false claims are not uncommon. I've got my share of odd stories. The more the tenant feel empowered to get unfair advantage with the local rules the more likely they are to pull stunts on the owner/mgmt to get a way with something.

I do not like frivolous law suites by tenants or by the owners. Mediation can and does work. Even in the hotbed of Santa Monica where the SM Rent Control Board has had the ability to strong arm property owners for years has finally gotten mediation as the first step to get a good win win solution.

Recently we have had false mold claims. And a frivolous law suit over a raccoon. Silly stuff. Just part of the life we live in this business.

Keith Lambert
20+ years of property management
Santa Monica and Los Angeles CA

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

your all idiots — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:39:17 -0000

your all idiots. this is EXACTLY what they want, our attention.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

chilee — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:15:30 -0000

Lakawak - Horizon is full of back talk and dirty work. Mold is actually their tiniest offense. Just look at their Ravenswood property and what's going on there. Do some digging. Trust me, if people say they have mold in that building...it's worse than you could imagine.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

NeilCardiff — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:29:17 -0000

The "Sue first" comment reminds me of Ratners, a jewelery chain here in Britain.

It's owner Gerald Ratner destroyed his company overnight with this one comment at a shareholder meeting.

"People say, "How can you sell this for such a low price?", I say, because it's total crap".

He later said that was tongue in cheek also.

Too late, it had already goten out and the companies reputation was destroyed. It collapsed a short time later.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Outraged Public — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 03:42:25 -0000

Help stop companies like Horizon Realty from filing frivolous lawsuits and wasting taxpayer money. Please follow us on Twitter at OutragedPublic, and then visit http://www.petitionspot.com...... to sign a petition telling companies like Horizon that you find this behavior unacceptable. Our simple website is located at http://outragedpublic.weebl.... We will be posting updates on our petition progress there, and we have a forum where you can discuss your thoughts on this issue. Together we can make a statement. Thank you for your support.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:34:35 -0000

It sounds like maybe they were just trying to find a reason to sue her so they could negotiate with her to drop her lawsuit if they would drop theirs.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

steve — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:35:57 -0000

Mold, no mold. Libel, no libel. Seems like you've got an axe to grind in this discussion. I assume that you are somehow associated with the company. The mold and the alleged libel are microscopic when compared to the blunders of the executive leadership and representation of the company.The bigger questions here are:

What the hell would motivate a management company to make such a mountain out of such a molehill? What could they hope to gain? We see the results. One wonders if it is worth it to make your company appear in such a negative and adversarial light.

Mr. Michael's initial statement calls the company's motivations into question. Why would a reputable company make this statement?

I see your point about the flock mentality. As you said earlier, the facts determine the real story. You also need to be careful about jumping to the 'lie' conclusion. If you are not directly related to the company you don't have the facts either.

I'm looking at a transfer into Chicago and may be in the market for a rental. This situation has caused me to do more research into the company. I'm quite sure I could find nasty history on any landlord in the city. But there is a recurring pattern in stories involving Mr. Michael. And they do not support a trust filled relationship.

Trust is the most important thing for me in a business relationship. Regardless of the condition of the apartments (I can see through whiney complaints and these things are fixable). Someone who cannot be trusted, however... This cannot be fixed. In my estimation, Mr. Michael and the company's representation made a grave misjudgment in pushing litigation based on this transparent and nearly inconsequential comment.

Certainly most are going to see this as a sad commentary on the state of our business civilization. No matter how the minority of folks that would support such lunatic PR behaviors might feel about it. The court of public opinion is very powerful. It will take a substantial amount of energy (or public amnesia - which also happens frequently) to overcome the negative effects of the company's public response.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Horizon — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:19:04 -0000

Lakawak.... your comments are so obviously biased, and you are so intensely concerned with monitoring every single comment on this post, that it is blatantly obvious you are, or are affiliated with Horizon. You might as well update your profile....

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Ned — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:42:20 -0000

Mashable needs to do an article on the nature of libel in the context of free speech. While both the Tweeter and the Tweetee may have handled this differently, so much of the indignation expressed both in the article and the comments is simply bizarre, especially given the volatile nature of the topic at hand. If you're going to make a specific allegation about a person or company, then word it carefully or be prepared to demonstrate that it's factual, particularly if the other party is likely to consider it defamatory. Another option, as was the case with "United Breaks Guitars," is to lay out the facts and context specifically in your statement, however whimsical it may be. But to throw out, however briefly, a comment like "apparently Dr. [fill in the blank] thinks it's ok to leave surgical instruments in people once he/she is done operating on them" is likely to garner a reaction, either by itself or as part of a broader process (like a law suit).

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Graham — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:20:24 -0000

DarrenScottMonroe. Please do not critique people's spelling when your grammar is atrocious. It's You're, as in You are, not your. Also, it's An assembly person, not A assembly. And I don't even know where to start with the punctuation. Long story short; If you're going to criticize someone's post based on linguistics and not content, try to keep yours tidy as well.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Darren Scott Monroe — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:05:24 -0000

Mr or Mrs excitement calm it down. Lakawak, first of all try that new invention called spell check LOL! Your soooo mad (oohhh angry guy ooooo) that your misspelling words.

And if you know more than 2% of her story (you know the one that got you commenting?) then why didn't you supply it??

Thank God your not a spelling teacher or a assembly person for the speak and spell factory . LOL!

You seem very emotionally involved. Cool out hey you know what might help you is a warm relaxing midnight shower opps er ah nevermind :)

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

Juan García — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:59:19 -0000

Ahora conozco bien a Horizon y sé cómo funcionan, sé cual su política de empresa: "No aceptar la realidad, les molestan las verdades".

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:54:29 -0000

I loveit when people like you think you know everything about the case based on knowing about 2% of hte facs. Amazing how juvenile people can be on the internet. You know NOTHING about this woman. And i is not uncommon at all for someone to sue over a disagreement and make up lies to tryu to win. But you have a chip on your shoulder and think that all businesses are evil. Gotcha.

I knew a landlord that had a tenant who didn't like the fact that the landlord kept the apartments at "only" 70 degrees in the winter. (Landlord paid for heat) to heat up her apartment, she would turn on the hot water in the shower and let it run until the hot water ran out. (Resulting in no one being able to take night time showers unless they wanted it cold.) When her lease was up, the landlords refused to renew it and she sued...for mold...mold that she caused and hte landlord did clean up once but told her that she would have to pay for any future clean ups since it was obvious what was causing the mold which was occurring oknly in her apartment was was literally branching out in a concentric circle from her shower. But yes...all businesses are evil because YOU say so after reading a few biased articles on it.

Thank god you are not a lawyer, or a judge or anyone of importance.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:45:36 -0000

Again...the very fact that Horizon SAW the Tweet means that it was visible to far more than 6 people. Tweets ar searchable. So ANYONE who searched on Horizon Tealty would ahve been able to see it. And people do research on potential apartments before signing leases. Chances are, people now search Twitter to see if anyone has posted info.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:43:05 -0000

IF there was no mold, then it is not a review. It is a libelous statement.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:42:18 -0000

which completely makes your first comment pointless. If itis searchable to anyone who searches on Horizon REalty, then the lawsuit has lerit if there was no mold. After all, this is hte age of Twitter. Surely there are people that will search on a potential landlord beore signing a lease. Many will Google the landlord. Others will google it, AND search on various other sites.

Hence, far more than 6 people could see it. Including potential customers.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:39:04 -0000

pleae don't embarras yourself by proving to he world that you don't understnad the Bill of Rights. At NO point in the first amendment is libel rotected.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:37:27 -0000

What she said is NOT an opinion. If there was no mold, it was an outright lie. And no...don't embarrass yourself with your ignorancfe by saing "She never ACTUALLY said there wwas mold in the apartment. In a court of law, they go by what a REASONABLE person would interpret a statement. And to anyone not nitpicking, it was obvious what the Tweet was suggesting. Hence, if there was no mold, it is not an opinion, but a libelous statement.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:34:20 -0000

No, Mike...but it is wrong when someone LIES to spread rumors about a company.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

lakawak — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:33:33 -0000

Give me a break. you are pretty sure they lost more than $50,000? How do you propose they did that? Are you really trying to imply that in the last 2 days that $50,000 worth of tenants have decided to break the leases illegally and not pay their rent?. Or are you implying that people are really going to remember this when htey look for apartments in the future? Both implications are ridiculous.

Oh, and Darren..so, you have proof that this woman is telling the truth? If so, please provide it, otherwise you are just being a little bitch. Horizon's side of the story is FAR more plausible. Too many people think that the custoemr is always right which is simply not the case. Hell, there is an entire website (consumerist) dedicated to customers bitching whenever a company didn't bend over backwards to their unrealistic expectations.

Re: Horizon Realty Responds to Lawsuit Twitter Controversy

sdg — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:25:31 -0000

I had to take a gigantic dump. It was very difficult to get it out. When It finally came, I took a close look at it. It was the Horizon spokesperson! He was stomping about, all pissed off. He threatened to sue me because I had not kept my inner bowels in a 100% perfectly mold-free condition.

He was the cutest little thing. He had a tiny briefcase full of soiled legal papers and a tiny hat covering his bald head.

It's true what they say about losing things, (like small morons); their always in the last place you look!