DISQUS

Bob · 4 months ago

"“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”.

Doesn't this do more damage to their reputation than the tweet about mold?

Maureen25 · 4 months ago

Absurd. Talk about using brand management in the absolutely opposite way it should be used...

zafarali · 4 months ago

+1

my_wheel_life · 4 months ago

+2 I just about fell out of my chair when I read that part. Haven't Horizon's lawyers ever heard of the phrase, "frivolous lawsuit"?!

Richard · 4 months ago

Has any lawyer ever heard of a frivolous lawsuit?

I heard one lawyer firm (UK) advertising that they would sue companies who's employees caught swine flu from work. Honestly, how is a company supposed to protect from a pandemic, unless they knew that that person has swine flu? All they do is stifle enterprise and add more red tape purley as a result of their reckless money grabbing.

We need much tighter laws on what you can sue for and how much you can sue for. If this woman is middle class average Joe then they probably just set her and her family back several years for no good reason.

This is why compensation lawyers and firms that use them as much as possible disgust me...

Ian Conrad · 4 months ago

+10 facepalm

Clay · 4 months ago

Not if they want the reputation of a company with whom one shouldn't screw!

FireMom · 4 months ago

That's what I was thinking. Classy at that!

David G Shrock · 4 months ago

Exactly. Who wants to do business with a "sue first, ask questions later" organization?

Chris Dessi · 4 months ago

While I understand that Horizon has every right to seek damages for defamation, this suit is particularly disturbing to me. Brands that are engaging in Twitter, and are seeking damages for defamation will soon find that there is no way they will be able to regulate this type of Tweeting, just as they won't be able to regulate everyday conversations about their brand between friends. What they're missing here is that Twitter should be leveraged for "listening"...perhaps that apartment was in fact moldy. They should look at this as an opportunity to remedy an obviously unhappy customer. To be a company that says “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” will lead to nothing buy headaches for everyone. What they're missing as well is that they don't own their brand. Brand is the emotion that people feel when they interact with their brand. Unfortunately whenever I hear Horizen said emotion will be resoundingly negative.

NatMich · 4 months ago

I agree that defamation is wrong and Horizon has the right to seek it. I also agree that even assuming there is a good chance this could be a legitimate case of defamation, it is still confusing to me as to why Horizon is going after it like this. In addition to the points you mentioned, I also think it would just have been much more cost-effective for Horizon to directly address @abonnen's concerns and determine why she said what she said. I believe that this would help Horizon prevent future such incidents (since they could potentially determine the reason as to why she tweeted this) and would also likely make @abonnen happy... perhaps even happy enough to promote Horizon as a brand that cares about its residents and works to address their concerns? I've seen other brands use Twitter in this way (ex: Blenz and Molson) and they are creating really positive word-of-mouth, tweet-to-tweet publicity for themselves...

johnhutson · 4 months ago

What a joke - How do they know the statement was false? If they had followed the likes of ComCastCares by replying and seeing what they could do to rectify the situation - then this sorry excuse of a situation could have been calmed down.

Clowns.

mandawahoo · 4 months ago

Agreed. I have tweeted about problems with Comcast and, rather than suing me, they rectified the situation. I then told everyone I knew. That's good press. Horizon has created bad press.

jared · 4 months ago

This is pretty absurd. The "sue first, ask questions later" is especially irritating to me.

Horizon Realty Group
4242 N. Sheridan Rd, Ste #120
Chicago, IL 60613
Phone 773.529.7200
Fax 773.529.7201

Second Cinema · 4 months ago

+1

Chris Rufkahr · 4 months ago

Jeffrey Michael's line was buzy! LOL. I left a message asking if he would like to come speak at my organization about Public Relations. ROFLMAO!!!

@medicthree · 4 months ago

This shit is outrageous.

DarrenScottMonroe · 4 months ago

Outrageous! INDEED but I grew up in Chicago and this is not surprising at all! They are infamous for their buildings (you know who "they" are LOL) so suing is not surprising it is actually being able to get away with it that would be surprising.

unveiled · 4 months ago

CAREFUL, they might sue you for this comment lol!

FireMom · 4 months ago

Living on the edge!

dakabn · 4 months ago

Wow! Loosen up, greedy corporations. This STORY probably caused more stir than her little tweet.

Sue ME · 4 months ago

Horizon Properties is the worst in my opinion. They just want to sue everybody!! They like to grow mold as experiments in their apartments!! Ok take my comments and sue ME!!

postedhere · 1 month ago

wow, you're brave to say this..lol....

But I'm just amazed with how a simple tweet from an ordinary person who does not even tweet often could create this controversy...

r0cketman22 · 4 months ago

this bad PR will hurt them far worse than this what tweet was even capable of doing.

Herwig · 4 months ago

So much for freedom of tweet.

zafarali · 4 months ago

I thought we lived in a free country!

Amanda · 4 months ago

Ever hear of slander?

Allison · 4 months ago

It's only libel if it is malicious and untrue.

You should be able to voice your frustrations about a TRUE situation.

Drunkenatheist · 4 months ago

Slander and libel have to have a proven monetary loss associated with the comments. Given that Bonnen had 20 followers, chances are that she didn't have enough people for this news to even impact Horizon. This lawsuit, however, is giving them way more coverage (in and outside of Chicago) than a friggin tweet ever would have.

mike · 4 months ago

slander is verbal. This was written and has the potential to reach a wider audience...that's called libel.

Frank · 4 months ago

It's neither if it's true.

Brian · 4 months ago

Yeah well you ever complain about someone? if so then they should sue you too, people complain about co. and the Govt. all the time, this is just plain dumb and a waste of our judicial system.

Daniel · 4 months ago

think again...!

Chris Dessi · 4 months ago

While I understand that Horizon has every right to seek damages for defamation, this suit is particularly disturbing to me. Brands that are engaging in Twitter, and are seeking damages for defamation will soon find that there is no way they will be able to regulate this type of Tweeting, just as they won't be able to regulate everyday conversations about their brand between friends. What they're missing here is that Twitter should be leveraged for "listening"...perhaps that apartment was in fact moldy. They should look at this as an opportunity to remedy an obviously unhappy customer. To be a company that says “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” will lead to nothing buy headaches for everyone. What they're missing as well is that they don't own their brand. Brand is the emotion that people feel when they interact with their brand. Unfortunately whenever I hear Horizon said emotion will be resoundingly negative.

Josh Bear · 4 months ago

I agree with you Chris. Personally I think that we should not tolerate companies doing these type of things. If they are looking to keep a good reputation then they should have talked with her about the problem and resolve it. Their comment “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” is a terrible thing to say and it will most likely only get RT over and over on Twitter and make it's way onto other social media such as facebook. So in the end the woman may get to play with a lawsuit that will most likely end with a slap on the hand. Horizon will be forever damaged and will only have them selves to blame. Twitter is like a bees nest, you hurt one, more will come...

@quijybo · 4 months ago

You say you have a good reputation to uphold, then state that you're a "sue first, ask questions later" kind of organization? Jesus Christ. What a bunch of morons.

Someone · 4 months ago

Sue first, ask questions later? Wow. Just wow. Do you want to keep tenants? I personally don't want to live in an apartment where the owners will SUE me for a meaningless tweet.

Dennis · 4 months ago

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”. Well, that sure sounds like someone I want to have as a landlord. How can anyone think this is the right PR approach? This is not a fit punishment. It's a company with power (read: money) steamrolling someone weak and trying to intimidate everyone else in the process. FAIL.

MLDina · 4 months ago

Wow, talk about a bad PR strategy. They could've taken the opportunity to address the commenter's concerns and turn a negative experience into a positive one. Sue now and ask questions later? What kind of a business philosophy is that. You're not going to meet many loyal customers by attacking them. She had 20 followers! They now have at least 187 people (at the time I post this) with a far worse opinion of them.

Laine · 4 months ago

This is outrageous -- the company should have first looked into the complaint like they care about it! Instead, they are not concerned about the person's health, nor the fact that they are complaining, nothing - just sue. You can't say anything bad about us - well, they just said it all themselves.

maslowbeer · 4 months ago

I think we should show Horizon the true power of social media. Somewhere there's an attorney who would be willing to take up this lawsuit on frivolous grounds and possibly file a counterclaim. In the meantime, we should create a letter writing and overwhelm their offices with mail letting them know how moronic they're acting.

katebuckjr · 4 months ago

Hey, Horizon Realty, not sure if you realize YOU are doing more to damage your rep than the measly tweet sent to 20 followers. I'm sure no one even read the tweet - until this story was picked up. Plus, you look like giant a-holes for not dealing with it in a way that kept it that way. That's my $.02

KickRocks1904 · 4 months ago

Real Estate companies are broke......scrapping for money. A big sign of desperation

zazo · 4 months ago

I saw the first "bad" effect of tweet, now we can't even tweet freely?

zafarali · 4 months ago

I thought we lived in a free country!

Daniel · 4 months ago

think again..

Daniel Ord Rasmussen · 4 months ago

This is going to take off on Twitter. Already has, really.

Arthur Sabintsev · 4 months ago

They will undoubtedly lose.

Gary Glitter · 4 months ago

Horizon.

Prepare to get fucked

zafarali · 4 months ago

She was just expressing her views?

Mary · 4 months ago

This is absolutely ridiculous. They (Horizon Realty) thinks the TWEET has made them look bad? This lawsuit makes them look like a bunch of tool boxes. What dummies--I will spread the word that Horizon Realty is a bunch of major hosers. Not because of MOLD, but because they are JERKS. The judge should just throw this one out. What an OUTRAGE.

Allison · 4 months ago

Watch out Mary, that comment probably just got you a $100,000 lawsuit. ;)

unveiled · 4 months ago

So true, if they let the tweet go no one would think of it much but now there's a billion comments about how bad of a company they are and that what they've done is unfair. Otherwise the most you'd get out of the tweet is "haha that sucks get a new apartment" or something.

Amod Munga · 4 months ago

Trying to figure out when having an opinion suddenly became a crime or at least a civil offence. Anyone?

Stacy P · 4 months ago

Seems to me that this story and the Horizon rep's last comment will be more damning to the company than Bonnen's original 20-impression tweet.

jash · 4 months ago

if she complained to them before the tweet and they ignored her, fuck em!

Jo · 4 months ago

All it needs now is for the mold picture to show up on TwitPic, or similar, and Horizon are screwed.

gennadiy · 4 months ago

Wow! its interesting/Thanks for post.

D6Veteran · 4 months ago

Horizon = moron. Uh, oh. Am I now going to be sued?

They have to prove that the Tweet did monetary damage to their organization. They'll spend a lot of money trying to prove that, and will lose even if they manage to win.

johndoe · 4 months ago

We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”.

Disgusting!

Mike · 4 months ago

Did the lady present herself as a representative of the apartment complex company or was she an employee? No, so case should be dismissed and a counter suit awarded if she actually does have mold in her apartment they refuse to remove.

johndoe · 4 months ago

"We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”.

Now, saying that is how to really damage your company's reputation.

jonk · 4 months ago

poor horizon. keep digging -- you might just reach china.

Dan · 4 months ago

Horizon Realty is retarded. This stupid lawsuit will bring them more negative PR than that harmless tweet ever would. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

Rui Delgado · 4 months ago

Congratulations Horizon Realty! You just got a GREAT marketing campaign on how abusive and anti-people you can be. You sure sound like you think you have the BEST apartments on Earth, and also you sound like you would destroy any of us who would express our FREE opinion, like a FASCIST company!

I wonder if now you would become a trending topic, and I wonder if you think SUING ALL OF US is a considerable option!

imlj · 4 months ago

Agree w/ other comments - the Horizon representative didn't do the company any favors by declaring it to be "a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization.” (They must believe the mistaken saying that "any publicity is good publicity.") ... My question: Does Horizon include a statement to this effect in their lease agreements so potential tenants know what they're getting into with these folks before they hand over their money and move in?

Greta · 4 months ago

Ok, this is a great article except you didn't publish your thoughts, or an outcome? Where is the woman? Did her apartment really have mold? MORE!!!!

Andrew · 4 months ago

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”.

This thinking is exactly what's wrong in our sue happy nation

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

I have been sued for libel. And in my non-lawyer opinion, but based on the experience I had, this will get thrown out. At a minimum, they will settle. Again, I am no lawyer, but I do not think that this is libel. Especially if it can be proved. Unfortunately for the person that tweeted this, they will have to pay legal fees because once you are sued, you MUST respond. And that means the person needs to hire a lawyer (= retainer of probably at least $5K, maybe more), unless they plan to manage it themselves.

There are more and more companies that are being very aggressive about internet communication. And I do agree it's a good idea to make sure that you can back up whatever you say with facts. It doesn't matter what these companies 'should' be doing and that they are missing opportunities to provide great customer service. In law, the person with the most money wins. That is the sad and horrible truth about our justice system.

Christine · 4 months ago

What if what @abonnen said was true? It's not 'libel' in my (completely non-expert) opinion. Yes - Twitter isn't *really* the place - but give me a break! $50,000 is ridiculous! Talk about trying to get your name in the 'news' Horizon.

Tamar Weinberg · 4 months ago

Totally agreed. And they don't do due diligence -- they sue first and ask questions later. What kind of ridiculous process is that?

Chris · 4 months ago

What kind of company is that? Do they sue first and ask questions later of their partners, employees, and vendors too? This speaks a lot about the relationships they keep.

Drunkenatheist · 4 months ago

Honestly? The "sue first" comment is probably going to cost them waaaaay more tenants than a sarcasm laced Tweet ever would.

If I were moving to Chicago, I'd be way more inclined to take a look at the complex even if I had seen the Tweet. Now? I'd research which properties they own in Chicago so I'd know which ones to skip over completely.

deanholmes · 4 months ago

Wow - watch what you tweet folks. As this fluid medium grows, so will the Laws (and Lawyers) looking to squeeze us.

Dean Holmes
http://deanholmes.me

unveiled · 4 months ago

Well still it's a free country if you don't like something you can easily say your mind. Especially with a site like Twitter.

deanholmes · 4 months ago

I completely agree with unveiled.

unmarketing · 4 months ago

Even though Twitter is a reaction-based, don't forget that it's still public communication. Don't tweet anything you wouldn't want to see on a billboard with your name, face and phone number on it... and your mom driving by.

Kate Robins · 4 months ago

Freedom's great. Use it responsibly.

@CharityHisle · 4 months ago

In my opinion, this is exactly what NOT to do. There's no opportunity to win new customers or gain customer advocates with this type of response. If she's telling the truth or if she's lying, Horizon is making her the victim with the lawsuit. Nothing good comes out of making your customer your victim.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Ian Sobolev · 4 months ago

Hey girl, nothing to worry about!

Jesse Jordan · 4 months ago

This is absolutely ABSURD! Why in the world would someone make up that an apartment was moldy? Through pure speculation, this resident was obviously upset about her living circumstances. NOT an uncommon situation for many living in apartments (especially when they've notified the apt. division and they fail to help). I have had several issues in NYC. Many people have.

I think Horizon should spend their energy where it's more needed: Cleaning and updating their residents' apartments. They, by choice, made this a big deal all over the media, which, in effect, blew this completely out of proportion damaging their company more. People are always going to talk. Let them talk. As long as you're offering quality, what do you have to worry about?
Shame on you Horizon. Shame on you.

@FLASHRelations

Brian Kopp · 4 months ago

EDIT: thinking about about this, it seems that the company doesn't understand the groundswell and that this will only create for controversy and end of costing them more money. I agree with @ChrisDessi, they should have taken the opportunity to fix the situation or investigate it first, use the medium to reply vs. suing first, ask questions later. Doesn't sound like the type of company I'd like to do business with.

Sara · 4 months ago

I find it funny that they're more concerned with this tweet affecting their reputation than they are about their suing someone over a tweet destroying their reputation.

Second Cinema · 4 months ago

The fact that Horizon is suing is absolutely absurd! challenging our freedom to not only state facts from one's experience, but even opinions on twitter, or anywhere else for that matter...are these in jeopardy? Horizon is the one that looks bad in this situation and this lawsuit will hurt them more than that girls post.

Jason Tryfon · 4 months ago

The irony of this case is that the ramifications may actually haunt the organization more so than that of the user who pposted the tweet.

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” Is not the best type of statement to be putting out from a customer service perspective. It certainly makes me think about what kind of landlord I would be having if I moved in there.

The voice of the customer is powerful enough let alone with the power of Twitter at play. I think this situation could have been handled much better through keeping a close eye on customer opinion and resolving the issue. Perhaps a tweet would have went out after handling the issue, telling all how amazed she is that the property co. handled the issue so promptly. We see this everyday on twitter.

Sheila@The Re Agency · 4 months ago

So..

Let's say I get bad customer service from, oh I don't know.. At&t .. and i tweet "At&t has bad customer service and they don't care" if this lawsuit passes, I'll be held liable for my opinion? On my own Twitter update?

Isn't that against everything the internet is meant to be?

xtex · 4 months ago

yeah.. but the difference is, AT&T really *does* have bad customer service, and they really don't care... and everyone knows it already. ;)

Sheila@The Re Agency · 4 months ago

So.. what if these people are a similiar case? And they really have mold and they really don't care?

Union Room · 4 months ago

It's ironic that to protect their reputation, they are absolutely destroying it at the same time.

Amy · 4 months ago

Everyone RT this one - I want to see Horizon try to sue everyone on the internet.

Digital Jedi · 4 months ago

Honestly, suing over a Twitter post? What are they, ten-year-olds?

maureen mccabe · 4 months ago

Wow I think they over reacted. They are hurting themselves worse with the notoriety they are getting NOW than 140 characters could have hurt them if the person had 100 times the followers IMHO. If it's not on Twitter, it's going to be on a website, or Myspace or Facebook if someone wants to whine about a person or a company.

rrhobbs · 4 months ago

sue this

Mike Murray · 4 months ago

I really hope that Horizon Realty becomes a trending topic and they get slammed for it. This is ridiculous. Everybody should RT this story with some mention of "Horizon Realty" and "Mold."

MaureenMcCabe · 4 months ago

Wow I think they over reacted. They are hurting themselves worse with the notoriety they are getting NOW than 140 characters could have hurt them if the person had 100 times the followers IMHO. If it's not on Twitter, it's going to be on a website, or Myspace or Facebook if someone wants to whine about a person or a company.

SRivera · 4 months ago

I can't believe that!

Instead of wasting time with a ridiculous lawsuit they should use their time to properly manage their property and get take care of the tenants needs. She was obviously frustrated for the situation.

Kate Whatley · 4 months ago

Who in their right mind would admit “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”?!?!? Jeffrey Michael appears to be digging Horizon Realty a deeper and deeper hole.

Kkreft · 4 months ago

Wow. Seems to me that their "Sue first, ask questions later," comment is going to do them a lot more harm than @abonnen's tweet. Who wants to rent from a company that publicly states that as their attitude?

Rui Delgado · 4 months ago

Congratulations Horizon Realty! You just got a GREAT marketing campaign on how abusive and anti-people you can be. You sure sound like you think you have the BEST apartments on Earth, and also you sound like you would destroy any of us who would express our FREE opinion, like a FASCIST company!

I wonder if now you would become a trending topic, and I wonder if you think SUING ALL OF US is a considerable option!

Rui Delgado · 4 months ago

Congratulations Horizon Realty! You just got a GREAT marketing campaign on how abusive and anti-people you can be. You sure sound like you think you have the BEST apartments on Earth, and also you sound like you would destroy any of us who would express our FREE opinion, like a FASCIST company!

I wonder if now you would become a trending topic, and I wonder if you think SUING ALL OF US is a considerable option!

Dan · 4 months ago

This is a 'c u next Tuesday' kind of organisation! Shocking

lcalcote · 4 months ago

How embarrassing for Jeffery Michael of Horizon Reality.

Scott S. · 4 months ago

I guess it meets the definition of libel, but c'mon... how do you prove the $50,000 loss? The Internet should remain a place where people can express they're opinion freely. Another attack against free speech.

Scott S. · 4 months ago

I guess it meets the definition of libel, but c'mon... how do you prove the $50,000 loss? The Internet should remain a place where people can express they're opinion freely. Another attack against free speech.

Malcolm Bastien · 4 months ago

To protect Horizon's reputation? Oh ya, this was a good move. For sure.

Alyice · 4 months ago

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” is far, far more hurtful on their reputation than the customer's disatisfaction in her apartment or her claim that it is full of mold. A statement like that puts up a huge "caution" flag with anyone who wants to do business with them and could actually cost them customers in the long run. Who wants to be involved with a company that prouds itself on being “a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” ? I know I wouldn't. I would rather work with someone, or do business with someone, who is going to listen to what I have to say first, find out all the facts, and then work towards a solution--even if it's a compromise. Heck, for all we know, she put the statement up out of frustration but maybe, just maybe she wanted someone in the organization to listen to her since she obviously wasn't getting anyone in her immediate contact circle to listen. Is it really any different than someone so frustrated with a bad company going to a newspaper journalist to have them "investigate" and help them resolve the situation publicly since it couldn't be resolved privately? I am not saying the gal is right for naming the company in her tweet and it really does make us all stop to ponder what we tweeta bout, but surely a follower base of only 20 people would never have resulted in much--whereas this $50,000 lawsuit and their poor judgement in stating “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization” has outraged many citizen journalists and caused far more negative publicity in the long haul.

DianeCoville · 4 months ago

What a shame that Horizon did not bother to take the time to practice some Reputation Management and Customer Service. There are several stories out there where disgruntled customers have tweeted about their issues when they are dissatisfied and, from what I have heard, most companies make the effort to address the issues directly with the customer and strive to resolve the situation to their mutual agreement before any further bad publicity can hit the internet or other forms of media. In my experience in Customer Service, about 85% of customers have a legitimate complaint - and, of course, there are those who will complain for gain (about 15%) but any Company who holds Customer Service as a priority in their business should/will investigate the issue and attempt to rectify the problem in the best interests of all concerned. Horizon, apparently does not value the business that they get from their customers and don't care to deal with issues per the comments of Mr. Jeffrey Michael...."he said: “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”. That is one organization I would never do business with.

robyn · 4 months ago

Well the real estate professionals really tell you who they are with the statement "we're a sue first..." I don't live anywhere near the area and probably never will. But that statement, on its own merit, would make me never want to do business with them. I'm sure they responded as well to renters' requests.

Another clue is that they really think by taking this action they're helping their business. Yikes.

dialogue1 · 4 months ago

Instead of doing some kind of customer managament and apologize for her bad experience, they sue her. Strange. I don't think this shows Horizon in a very good light. May I say that - or should I fear to be sued by tomorrow, too?
@ Herwig: What about freedom of tweet? You say it..what about it?

Nichole Smith · 4 months ago

Wow. I wish I could "sue first and ask questions later for everything that upset me". Honestly, I think as a brand they are making a huge mistake. I honestly hope the person is telling the truth about the realty company.

Paul OFlaherty · 4 months ago

If they are suing her then it is technically liable and they have every right to just as if it was on her blog. I'm thankful that they had the sense not to go after Twitter but the poster of the comment, which is the way it should be.

Still, it's a shame that things are coming to this. It's overkill in this situation. Now, if it was someone with a large following on an active account things might be a bit different.

katebuckjr · 4 months ago

Hey, Horizon Realty, not sure if you realize YOU are doing more to damage your rep than the measly tweet sent to 20 followers. I'm sure no one even read the tweet - until this story was picked up. Plus, you look like giant a-holes for not dealing with it in a way that kept it that way. That's my $.02

Erik Giberti · 4 months ago

About ~$560 per letter. Good thing she didn't use the full 140 or they would have sued for > $75,000!

Jason · 4 months ago

I am a never rent from that company, and tell everyone about this later type of person. Horizon is going to lose far more than 50k out of this move. Just fix the damn mold! (which is true)

Sue me.

saying wrong things at work · 4 months ago

I said something towards my supervisors at work and tell them what I think what I think about them and they did not like it. I almost got the free over it, but If I explains what happen regards to the fist responds that it was only my eyes only and had no interests in calling names or make that person bad. Watch out what you say on face book or other website like that, it will only make it bad for you if you speak out your mind. What happen to freedom of Speech?

Allison · 4 months ago

Horizon Realty needs a lesson in good PR. Prior to the lawsuit, 20 people may have seen the tweet. Now hundreds of thousands have seen it. Idiots.

If they can win that suit, I'm ditching Twitter. What is the point if you can't speak your mind or complain about a crappy company?

Mark Silver · 4 months ago

Yes, it's absurd. Yes, Horizon is obviously not dealing with this in a human or even effective way. The most effective way would be to express concern: "Wow, one of our renters has a bad situation and thinks we don't care! What can we do to fix the situation?"

And, on the other hand, libel is libel. She made a statement ascribing intentions to Horizon. If she had made the statement, "Wow, sure sucks sleeping in a moldy apartment. After five calls and two letters, no response from Horizon." If that were true, she'd be protected, and brought the same intention.

We are far too litigious a society. And, at the same time, remember to take responsibility for your communications.

saying wrong things at work · 4 months ago

I said something towards my supervisors at work and tell them what I think what I think about them and they did not like it. I almost got the fired over it, but If I explains what happen regards to the fist responds that it was only my eyes only and had no interests in calling names or make that person bad. Watch out what you say on face book or other website like that, it will only make it bad for you if you speak out your mind. What happen to freedom of Speech?

Bob · 4 months ago

I think you were almost fired because you can't make a coherent sentence not because you spoke your mind. I cannot even begin to translate what you are trying to say here.

jeffcogswell · 4 months ago

Here's the website with contact info:

http://www.horizonrealtygroup.com/

You have to wonder about their intelligence. If they had ignored it, there would be millions of people complaining about them right now. Sounds like a horrible company if they would sue somebody for complaining to her friends. (20 twitter followers...)

KickRocks1904 · 4 months ago

A big sign of desperation......Real Estate Companies are broke.

"Horizon Realty is a KNOB"


..Try and sue me and I will SMASH you in court.....

Jmee · 4 months ago

frankly, in her place, i would sue horizon for bad quality service and for moral damage caused by their action.
not to mention that the guys from horizon are pure idiots. if before the "event" the tweet was saw about 20-30 persons, maybe, now the "bad tweet" went around the world making them a HUGE bad commercial

jeffcogswell · 4 months ago

Here's the website with contact info:

http://www.horizonrealtygroup.com/

You have to wonder about their intelligence. If they had ignored it, there would be millions of people complaining about them right now. Sounds like a horrible company if they would sue somebody for complaining to her friends. (20 twitter followers...)

Baxter · 4 months ago

Horizon Reality has a reputation to protect as lawsuit-filing douche bags. The moldy apartment owners- thats his brother.

Baxter · 4 months ago

Horizon Reality has a reputation to protect as lawsuit-filing douche bags. The moldy apartment owners- thats his brother.

@moparvarn · 4 months ago

I think she should counter sue.
They invaded her privacy,caused her to be drawn into the public eye by REPOSTING what she posted,they have caused her lots of pain and anguish,loss of her twitter account and she's peobably going to be to paranoid to create another & talk freely.Her normal routine has been greatly destroyed AND they have changed her day to day life by useing her for an example AND publicity (they didn't think it was going 2 b bad?).
Sue first? Because of that alone I'd go with greentree first and we all know about that !

TedCoine · 4 months ago

What I've learned from this article: 1. You'd have to be crazy to rent from Horizon. 2. ...There is no 2. Horizon took a 20-person-maximum micro-blurb and turned it into an online frenzy. The truth is not libel, and here's the truth: this is one of the dumbest business "strategies" I've seen in a while. Just amazing!

Jmee · 4 months ago

if maybe there were some chances to chose them before, now for sure i won't :)
and i am quite positive that i am not the only one thinking like this.
and why?
because there is always a group of people that don't like the product/service you provide. but if you try to crush them means that you are afraid of them (maybe they are telling the truth). from here i base my resolution.
from my point of view they lost a bigger % of people by doing this

brandonzeman · 4 months ago

Well I know what company I won't ever be using...

Chris · 4 months ago

We should all tweet about them and see if they can sue ALL of us ...
This is just ridiculous. I might understand if this person had hundreds of thousands of followers in Chicago ... but it's a person who used Twitter a couple of times only and had TWENTY followers. This company needs to get over it!

Heather Angelone · 4 months ago

If she did in fact have mold, and complained about it. Sue back. I'm sure she can find an wambulance chaser to do it for 90% of what he gets out of them.

The dangerous effects of mold are well documented throughout history (I know I was obsessed for a time). Of couse the specific type of mold is very important, and Chicago is not in an area where particuarlly damaging molds are very often found.

Just show up to court by yourself with shabby attire. Courts don't like to rule in favor of slick dicks over the average Jane.

This is so completly humorous to me. Next my city will be sueing me because I tweeted my dislike over the crime.

Tony · 4 months ago

50 grand is pretty high, If she had more followers here comment my have done damage.

RebeccaScott · 4 months ago

What ever happened to the freedom of speech?????!!!! you wouldn't walk down and street and sue someone for overhearing their moans. So it was written - big whoop - they should of turned it around and made it a positive somehow, now they look worse for sueing!!!

Jason · 4 months ago

Jeffrey Michael has got to be kidding himself. He is about to get a lesson in what it means to act stupidly. Horizon Realty will receive so much bad publicity from their, "We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization" that I hope it causes significant financial losses for Horizon.

His comments are so ridiculous that I'll be the entire staff at Horizon is ridiculous. Why would I rent from a place where the employees act so stupidly? Sue me for that Horizon! I DARE you to violate my first Amendment rights. Go ahead, I would love to be the new owner of Horizon Realty.

RebeccaScott · 4 months ago

What ever happened to the freedom of speech?????!!!! you wouldn't walk down and street and sue someone for overhearing their moans. So it was written - big whoop - they should of turned it around and made it a positive somehow, now they look worse for sueing!!!

RebeccaScott · 4 months ago

Truly outraged by this!!

Matt · 4 months ago

This suit is utter ripe BS and Horizon are a bunch of bullies (which they have aparently as much as admitted anyway) ... Defamation is EXTREMELY hard to prove, except in certain narrow cases. In this case, Horizon must prove both 1) that they were damaged by what was tweeted and 2) that it wasn't true.

If I were the tweeter, I'd counter-sue, especially if there was actual mold in the apartment.

What a joke.

Barry Wells · 4 months ago

WOW, is that disgusting treatment or what? The company say that they have a reputation to protect, wouldn't it make more sense to correct the problem? Instead they're going to take the tenant to court and they probably hope to claim enough money to pay for the upkeep of their buildings.

The tenant should try and get the other 1499 to appear with beside them.

Jen · 4 months ago

I like the part about upholding a good reputation...then stating the policy of sue first ask questions later. That is going to do wonders for reputation!

Jen · 4 months ago

I wonder what would have happened to their reputation if they would have read this "tweet" and responded in a manner such as to help come up with a remedy for the unhappy tenant. Think about the positive reputation then?! No instead "sue first ask questions later". Is this a sitcom?

ashley · 4 months ago

there is no way that will hold up in court. what bad PR for the Realty company -"We're a sue first--ask questions later kind of company." that is not a very professional response.

Jo Lynne · 4 months ago

My take is this - if the allegation was true, shame on the realty company. However, for tweeting without *first* going to the company, that is if the moldy apartment was factual and it applied to her, shame on the tweeter.

My other thought is, morally, I really don't like the stance that company took. Being a "...sue first, ask questions later kind of organization" is nothing to be proud of.

Contacting the woman privately through a legal representative, asking her to remove or make right the tweet; even informing her of their desire to sue - demonstrates a failure to communicate. I would be loathe to do business with such a company.

Elizabeth K. Barone · 4 months ago

Completely ridiculous. What ever happened to freedom of speech? I've tweeted that Dunkin Donuts messed up my order, and what did they do? Replied to me with a link to a coupon. When a customer complains about your services, the right thing to do is try to FIX the problem, not sue the customer!

I am so tired of all of these sue-happy people. I would never rent or buy from this company, since they obviously have no class. (Are you going to sue me for that comment, Horizon?)

Zack · 4 months ago

Make sure you tweet #HorizonRealty and help spread the news

robert · 4 months ago

so you are telling me that if this tweet's statement is true - this woman is in the clear? I hope so

Melanie · 4 months ago

Horizon made a big mistake with this one. Now hundreds of thousands of people are going to know they're crappy landlords instead of just a few.

dannyroa · 4 months ago

Does this mean this Yelp reviewer would get sued too?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/horizon-realty-group-ch...

John · 4 months ago

This suit will set a nice precedent for Twitter. There are already scores of precedents regarding comments made on websites.. for example the California "anti-slapp" law

http://www.casp.net/statutes/calstats.html

http://ncacblog.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/more-y...

Yelp has been reviewing services for a long time..

And it's ironic that they are getting sued over "positive reviews"... http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-francisco-yelp-la...

Nicole Seiffert · 4 months ago

Interestingly enough, their Careers section doesn't list a Public Relations Specialist... yet.

Andrew · 4 months ago

Perhaps she can counter-sue them for giving her a moldy apartment? That could be a health hazard.

GERALD STEPHENSON · 4 months ago

anything for a buck these days. she made a statement..... a large company going after the little people once again

Chris · 4 months ago

Anyone else think its funny that nearly all her tweets are negative/complaining and then the one tweet is "I think people look for things to complain about when they're not already complaining about something else" ?

Shadowbat aka Scotty · 4 months ago

Um...I like mold...really! *quickly deletes every negative tweet he made of anyone off his screen with Liquid Paper*

Kinu Star · 4 months ago

Uummm, No Comment....lol.....No really, Im not saying NOTHING!

Mark · 4 months ago

you link to the deleted account, not Horizon Realty's? let the games commence ;)

J9Ld · 4 months ago

Perhaps most ridiculous, the sue first comment seems to be coming from Horizon's lawyer. Now there's someone who should know better!

chilyn · 4 months ago

The saddest thing about this is that it is now news. If the company somehow ends up winning the case, they may actually be awarded damages much higher than what they asked for. 20 people connected to the tweet is one thing. Now it is affecting their reputation with thousands of people world wide. Personally, I now think the company sound like a bunch of raving idiots. Maybe they will now attempt to sue me for this opinion. Especially since I intend to tweet this comment? Perhaps they will sue Mashable? Disqus? Twitter? Think it will make a difference that I didn't actually name them?

I also wonder if the company understands the merits of word of mouth advertising. If so, then they must be equally receptive to the reality of word of mouth reviews. What about all of the review sites on the web? Will all of the companies out there start trolling the internet and suing the reviewers for libel? Will they join the record companies in their relentless pursuit of backward logic?

Stay tuned...

... · 4 months ago

I have seen listings for places owned by this company. Never realized they were a “...sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”

I won't be bothering to look at any of their buildings. That kind of attitude is not what I want in a building owner.

Chris Horton · 4 months ago

This was stupid. Too bad 4chan is busy with AT&T and can't handle the e-crisis. But Twitter users should ban together and take action. This turd's to big to flush.

Matt N · 4 months ago

Um yeah the judge is really gonna like it when he reads the spokesman's comment of "we sue first, ask questions later". Judges are already way overworked on frivolous lawsuits. This will not endear the company to his or her honor. Defense needs to make sure the judge reads that statement from the spokesperson for SURE.

David Kozinn · 4 months ago

I wonder if these guys have ever heard of the Streisand effect? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect)

Kymberlee · 4 months ago

This company and their reps are a bunch of idiots to be honest. Warn the girl first. Then, when you dont get the response, take action. But this whole "sue first, ask questions later" bullshit is exactly that - bullshit. They think a comment about mold will ruin their reputation? This stupid lawsuit will SLAUGHTER it.

David, K2DBK · 4 months ago

I wonder if these guys have ever heard of the Streisand effect? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect)

Ben Colmery · 4 months ago

Instead of seeing it as an opportunity to use Twitter as a customer service tool, and openly address this issue, this realty company appears to only see the negative here. My guess is their apartments aren't happy places to live, and they probably don't treat their tenants all that well. Besides, my guess is they won't win this, as long as there's mold in their apartments, there are documented complaints to the realty company, and little or no indication of the realty company doing anything to change the situation. Besides, if the realty company wins this, then what does that mean for comments sections on places like Amazon.com? I'm thinking the woman wins this won, or at least doesn't lose.

Ben Colmery · 4 months ago

Instead of seeing it as an opportunity to use Twitter as a customer service tool, and openly address this issue, this realty company appears to only see the negative here. My guess is their apartments aren't happy places to live, and they probably don't treat their tenants all that well. Besides, my guess is they won't win this, as long as there's mold in their apartments, there are documented complaints to the realty company, and little or no indication of the realty company doing anything to change the situation. Besides, if the realty company wins this, then what does that mean for comments sections on places like Amazon.com? I'm thinking the woman wins this won, or at least doesn't lose.

Chris Campbell · 4 months ago

Wow- this is why you should have a social media consultant on call for incidents like this- this is going to be a hard one to overcome. Even the local Chicago TV stations have started to pick up the story- not the smartest move Jeffery ever had.

Lelia Thomas · 4 months ago

I would love to see people retweet the "offending" tweet. How great would it be if thousands of people could make "Horizon Realty" and "moldy apartment" trending topics? Who would they sue, then? The Internet?

M · 4 months ago

Feel free to send all of your emails regarding this lawsuit to:

jmichael@horizonrealtygroup.com

;)

Your Name*Biz · 4 months ago

Way to go Horizon Realty. Only 20 people would have seen that tweet. Ever. Now millions do. Fucking idiots.

hotels near · 4 months ago

Seems you can't complain about Horizon Realty in Chicago. Literally
It's going to cost them more than $50,000 clean up this bad publicity mess.

hotels near · 4 months ago

Seems you can't complain about Horizon Realty in Chicago. Literally
It's going to cost them more than $50,000 clean up this bad publicity mess.

Ann · 4 months ago

It's true that comment damage his company, but I think they could ask Twitter for delete this tweet instead of sue her....my god she only had 20 followers....maybe none of them had read it yet!
But make money make money and make money is the final objective in this world.....very sad...

PD: I'm spanish so sorry if my english is not correct, lol, I hope you understand me!

FREEDOM PEOPLE ^^

Angel · 4 months ago

Definitely the wrong way for the company to go at it, but this is not surprising. Landlords of this ilk abound that would rather sue than deal with legitimate customer complaints (here's looking at a certain one I once had who was less than reputable but likes to brag about their image, but I digress). I have agree with others: by suing, they are making the woman a victim. It will be a PR nightmare for the company as the word gets out, especially if it turns out (as I am betting it will) that the place really had mold in it.

Chris · 4 months ago

So funny! If they wouldn't have sued, the crappy appartment story wouldn't have made it around the globe. Good way to preserve their image! Lol

Angel · 4 months ago

Definitely the wrong way for the company to go at it, but this is not surprising. Landlords of this ilk abound that would rather sue than deal with legitimate customer complaints (here's looking at a certain one I once had who was less than reputable but likes to brag about their image, but I digress). I have agree with others: by suing, they are making the woman a victim. It will be a PR nightmare for the company as the word gets out, especially if it turns out (as I am betting it will) that the place really had mold in it.

MediaCollective · 4 months ago

Freedom of opinion even in public is allowed what is not evident is if she is a tenant if so, she's within her rights if she is a competitor disguising as a individual than no and open for recourse.

Unfortunately, people can sue for what ever they want to, fact or fiction based thats the problem with the system there really are no deterrents from this ie- David vs Goliath. Hey Goliath your suing David because you think he can't defend himself well.... we all know what happens.

Assuming she's a disgruntled tenant, I agree, the company has done more damage to themselves by not only by the suing but by their own statements...this is a perfect example in how not to manage your brand, reputation. But also a big time wasting of our clogged legal system and tax dollars.

humm with the buzz of this topic bet she could find a great civil litigation firm attorney to take the case pro bono or on contingency because the typical tactic is counter suing the complaint. Especially if she is a tenant with legit complaints which have been attempted to be resolved on her part to deaf ears and now this... humm maybe David wins again.

Will E Stylez · 4 months ago

this is crazy, but @abonnen seems to be a BIG complainer so Horizon shouldn't take it personal! LOL!

MichaelADeBose · 4 months ago

While businesses are perhaps very sensitive to being publicly derided for poor service and products on say Twitter, a complaint posted on Twitter doesn't have to be nearly as viral as they fear. More than likely their market penetration and strength of their brand should serve as pretty good indicators of how sticky or not a complaint posted on Twitter might be. If the business isn't famous, I don't care how many followers have seen the complaint, the average Twitter user not knowing and so caring about the business, really has no regard for the Tweet. The second factor will be the number of followers a Twitterer has and how they sent out the message. Did they created a hash tag/group for it, maybe. I'd hazard the time the Tweet was sent out should also be considered and some sort of estimation on how much the complainer tweets and thus what is the likelihood this tweet will remain visible in the stream. Basically before they do anything, they really need try and calculate potential initial damage vs. what might happen when and how they respond.

The realtor really could have used a Social Media Consultant, because all that stuff I just wrote, won't matter when headlines say something like "Twitter user sued for Tweet...". The only people that might have cared about the initial tweet were their current, former, and maybe future tenants and people that care about the complainer. Twitter users on the other hand may well view the suit through very different eyes. Many don't care about mold, apartments or realtors. They see this as an affront on their favorite technology of choice or maybe only as an assault on their single reason for living. Whatever the reason, if a business or vested interest sues a party and a very popular social construct is involved, get ready and welcome to the world of infamy. This little company has basically single handedly made sure that world+dog will know that they sued someone for using Twitter, even though the suit is actually about libel.

Twitter users should also keep in mind that as easy as Tweets are to send out, from time to time, you may need proof of something you said. This is one of those times potentially.

Tyler Hayes · 4 months ago

Just to set the record straight on libel (in case it hasn't already been, as I only read the most recent 50 comments), technically the claim doesn't always have to be false to be considered libel. There are situations where libel can occur even when claims are false.

Also, if it turns out that there was mold in the apartment while Amanda lived there, but say for example Horizon remedied the situation and she decided to proceed tweeting anyway, this might be considered a "not technically false, but misleading" case, in which Horizon could claim a tort of false light has occurred, as it's called (instead of defamation). We'll just have to see how the dice roll!

Either way, truly a ridiculous case. And I couldn't believe that Jeffrey Michael actually said "We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization" until I clicked over to the source Chicago Sun-Times article. Simply mind-boggling.

MichaelADeBose · 4 months ago

Given what you're stating, had there actually been mold, when the tweet was sent, how many tweets were sent, character of the tweets reflecting current events are all things considered for false light correct? Would it matter if there had been mold and she tweeted about it, but if/when they remedied it and she tweeted, 'Woo hoo no more mold...', again continuing to accurately reflect the current status of her space, then "not technically false, but misleading" wouldn't apply, right?

It's ironic that they're suing someone, basically for making them look bad and their spokesmen is off making them look bad. Mr. Michael's "We're a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization," really doesn't help. I wonder will they attempt to collect from Amanda an award that takes into account all the damage they're doing to themselves. This looks like one of those situations where winning might not be all its cracked up to be.

Giannii · 4 months ago

That's quite the gangster move.

kristalm · 4 months ago

Ironic. I wouldn't have ever heard of the original tweet - but sue that "sue first ask questions later" statement makes a negative mark in my mind for that company, that I doubt I'll forget.

katie · 4 months ago

Libel? Try opinion, especially if she can prove it or take a tweetpic. This is worse damage for them than her single tweet that could have just disappeared with the rest of her negative tweets.

i_Joyce · 4 months ago

A lawsuit over a tweet? This company is stupid (well its managers are), the lady had about 20 followers, but now with this lawsuit even I (in the Netherlands) know it!

kristalm · 4 months ago

Ironic. I wouldn't have ever heard of the original tweet - but sue that "sue first ask questions later" statement makes a negative mark in my mind for that company, that I doubt I'll forget.

anonymous · 4 months ago

freedom of speech people - look it up. it was her opinion, let her have it. these "big time companies" need to check themselves at the door before trying to make a buck.

Joyce · 4 months ago

A lawsuit over a tweet? This company is stupid (well its managers are), the lady had about 20 followers, but now with this lawsuit even I (in the Netherlands) know it! How ignorant can you be? And what somebody else said is true, if she complained to the company and it is true, why should they sue. This only gives them even more bad press than what the woman said to her 20 followers.

Heather · 4 months ago

Oh, irony! They were afraid about this tweet getting heard by 20 followers, and now it's a trending topic. Epic Fail!

Doug Champigny · 4 months ago

At $50k for a tweet seen by 20 people, they've valued each viewer at $2,500. Now that their actions landed them on Mashable, just think of what that translates to. Looks good on any company so out of the oop on customer service as to say “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”.

The near future may well bring social media campaigns to expose scumbags, shysters, phonies and the companies they run - and not a minute too soon. Perhaps the 'little guy' will finally have a recourse to corporate budgets, legal teams and bullying intimidation - maybe someone like the EFF could even establish legal defense funds for righteous causes, taking public donations to help the wronged...

One can only hope... Thanks for exposing them, er, this, Pete! ;)

esmith512 · 4 months ago

This should be legally interesting. If the woman did have mold in her apartment, this should be easily demonstrable (pictures or samples of the mold from the air or mold sites) and I hope she publishes the results to go with her tweet. Horizon's "sue first and ask questions later" customer-service attitude and the lawsuit over a tweet and obvious first amendment guarantees has already impaired their reputation (the internet soaks up comments like this for decades). It seems that Horizon is doing a fine job of damaging their own reputation; their already self-demonstrated corporate personality implies a hostile disregard for people.

Michael Bauser · 4 months ago

Horizon sued her after she moved out. They're probably betting that she didn't save any evidence.

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

Would be good if she has pictures, but how many people think to do that? Most just move, as she did. Horizon did just trash their reputation, but this poor woman is most likely looking at legal fees of at least $5K and possibly more. Just to respond to this BS lawsuit. The legal system is OUT OF CONTROL in this country. He with the most money wins. Where is the justice in that? Unfortunately, tweeps, bloggers and forum posters need to be REALLY CAREFUL about what they say on the Internet. It was only a matter of time before this lawsuit happened. Amanda, I hope you get out fast and quick. I've been there.

Ron · 4 months ago

This has less to do with the absurdity than it does about highlighting the unfair asymmetrical relationship landlords have with tenants. For far too long landlords have held leverage over their tenants. Customer service? Bleh. Integrity? Yuck. Human decency? Give me a break. What are you going to do, move?

This is a situation where a landlord took their natural disposition to be in control and applied it to something that was faced publicly. I really hope this and other social media sparks a permanent change in the balance of power. Landlords suck!!

TheLuch · 4 months ago

I'd be surprised if Jeffery Michael still has a job at the end of the week with an asinine statement like he made. Seriously, while the statement could be construed as libelous because her last statement is a more a statement of fact rather than opinion, the morons, like Jefferey Michael, at Horizon really have zero clue as to how to manage their brand or their image. The cost of the lawsuit, brand damage and negative press will cost them a crapton more than $50,000.

Jerome_143 · 4 months ago

Horizon sucks ass.
Sueing someone for 50,000 over a tweet...asstards lol

Sarah · 4 months ago

This story is absolutely ridiculous! If they would have just let it go no one would have even seen this tweet. Clearly this twitter user doesn't have a big following and no one was going to see this tweet. The decision to sue turned this into a big story and now everyone has seen the tweet and knows about the company.

kp · 4 months ago

Horizon Realty are idiots. They just got about $5,00,000 in bad pr. for filing a frivolous lawsuit.

DanOfSoCal · 4 months ago

What did more damage to Horizon, the original Tweet or the bad PR from the lawsuit?

Michael Bauser · 4 months ago

Damn, if one angry tweet is worth $50K, I owe Delta Airlines a couple million dollars!

fourzerotwo · 4 months ago

Excellent job Horizon Realty. Go from a realtor with moldy apartments to an asshole realtor with moldy apartments. Smart strategy.

If this is bad, I guess all those "user reviews" on Amazon, and "user experience comments" on Property Ratings sites are ripe for the suing as well.

fourzerotwo · 4 months ago

Excellent job Horizon Realty. Go from a realtor with moldy apartments to an asshole realtor with moldy apartments. Smart strategy.

If this is bad, I guess all those "user reviews" on Amazon, and "user experience comments" on Property Ratings sites are ripe for the suing as well.

KateNonymous · 4 months ago

This makes me glad I never identified (online) the lousy management company that handled my last apartment.

peeta · 4 months ago

Wow. You're out to protect your reputation, yet you use the phrase, "we're a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization?" Yeah, let's see how "good" your reputation sky rockets after a statement like that.

peeta · 4 months ago

Wow. You're out to protect your reputation, yet you use the phrase, "we're a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization?" Yeah, let's see how "good" your reputation sky rockets after a statement like that.

Karla Jo Helms · 4 months ago

Look at her other tweets... she obviously was a naysayer.

Thomas Detko · 4 months ago

Well looks like Horizon has joined the prestigous group of idiot companies who destroy any brand-building with a moronic maneuver. Not only are they spreading bad press that originally only reached 20 followers but they are admitting guilt by over-reacting. Big guy crushing little guy always looks bad...

orangetiki · 4 months ago

When in Rome: I say counter-sue. I am sure you can find a loophole somewhere between 1st amendment rights, repression of information, and deformation of character.

Thomas Detko · 4 months ago

Well looks like Horizon has joined the prestigous group of idiot companies who destroy any brand-building with a moronic maneuver. Not only are they spreading bad press that originally only reached 20 followers but they are admitting guilt by over-reacting. Big guy crushing little guy always looks bad...

rebootie · 4 months ago

The tenent should just counter-sue for something, anything. I am sure the landlord was negligent somewhere. She may end up getting a settlement without having to pay any court costs for bringing the suit herself! OR the judge will throw them both out. win/win

sengels · 4 months ago

The tenent should just counter-sue for something, anything. I am sure the landlord was negligent somewhere. She may end up getting a settlement without having to pay any court costs for bringing the suit herself! OR the judge will throw them both out. win/win

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

'she should just counter-sue' > oh, if it were only that easy... being sued and suing costs money. A lot of money. How many people have a spare $5K hanging around these days? She'll need money to respond to the suit and she'll need money to counter-sue. It's horrible, but that is the awful legal truth in this country. And winning is not as easy as you might think, especially if she does not have pictures of the mold.

sengels · 4 months ago

The tenant should just counter-sue for something, anything. I am sure the landlord was negligent somewhere. She may end up getting a settlement without having to pay any court costs for bringing the suit herself! OR the judge will throw them both out. win/win

Gus Snarp · 4 months ago

Another reason suing is stupid: many apartment dwellers don't have $50,000 sitting around, nor do they have any assets like a home. Good luck collecting your $50,000 dollars.

Alek Gent-Vincent · 4 months ago

May I suggest a meme: "I heard that Horizon Realty (insert humorously horrible libel here)"

Meek · 4 months ago

Chicago is known for accidental blow torch fires that seem to burn our nice buildings. So if there is mold I'm sure some company will just hire those blow torch guys!

Tarah Feinberg · 4 months ago

From your screenshot, it looks like @abonnen sole mission was to pretty much just tweet complaints about different companies. As much as I think Horizon's reaction is horrible, maybe she was bound to get sued by someone...

OJAD · 4 months ago

That's ridicoulous!Isn't there freedom of prees or freedom of tweet(lol)somewhere in the consitution last time i checked there was beside if this was newspaper hse retracted it in other words she delted it! geez that's just ridiculous

PragueBob · 4 months ago

Horizon Realty sounds like a truly awful company. I guess they not only have moldy apartments, but they also seem desperate for money, trying to bilk $50,000 out of an already disgruntled tenant. The company spokesperson is a real sweetheart, too. NOT! Are these Horizon Realty bozos (that's what I said, BOZOS, so SUE ME!) anywhere else around the net? I'd like to have some fun with them.

Axel Taferner · 4 months ago

"Horizon’s Jeffrey Michael is quoted in the Sun-Times as saying ... “We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”."

That sounds like an excellent way to drum up new business. I bet statements like that give potential new tenants a really warm and fuzzy feeling.

Kris Mulkey · 4 months ago

Wow. They sue if we say something bad. Do they compensate us if we say something good? I don't think so. I haven't received any checks yet. Doesn't seem fair.

Michael · 4 months ago

"...Horizon has a good reputation to protect." That is, Horizon _had_ a good reputation. Whatever rep they had is completely gone, and by their own doing. The tweet itself didn't do much at all to hurt Horizon's rep; rather, that they went after this person with a lawsuit. Oops.

Michael · 4 months ago

"...Horizon has a good reputation to protect." That is, Horizon _had_ a good reputation. Whatever rep they had is completely gone, and by their own doing. The tweet itself didn't do much at all to hurt Horizon's rep; rather, that they went after this person with a lawsuit. Oops.

Franklin · 4 months ago

so what if they sue her. Once she gets an inspection agency to check the apartment for mold and the agency finds it... you can expect fines and class action lawsuits.

ken · 4 months ago

From their website: "About Horizon Realty Group
Horizon Realty Group is recognized as one of Chicago’s premiere apartment leasing and property management companies. Over the past 25 years, we have continuously raised expectations by stressing exemplary customer service and constant improvements to our apartments."

Really? REALLY!? http://www.horizonrealtygroup.com/about/default...

ken · 4 months ago

From their website: "About Horizon Realty Group
Horizon Realty Group is recognized as one of Chicago’s premiere apartment leasing and property management companies. Over the past 25 years, we have continuously raised expectations by stressing exemplary customer service and constant improvements to our apartments."

Really? REALLY!? http://www.horizonrealtygroup.com/about/default...

Iulian Donici · 4 months ago

More like they want to shut people's mouths. I don't know what laws exactly apply in the U.S. but that can't be right to sue somebody because she complained of bad service. THis is more like "You have ruined our image. So, look people, this should be an example for all of you, if you complain (especially online), we'll sue you, just because we can." A bunch of crap.

Adrienne @ SP Designs · 4 months ago

I think the "we sue first & ask questions later" statement THEY made has done more harm to their reputation than their tenant ever could ... so are they going to now sue themselves?

bhartzer · 4 months ago

It doesn't really matter what platform was used to 'broadcast' an apparently defamatory message against an organization (or someone), it just happens that it was Twitter that was used this time, which I think is a first.

@steveplunkett · 4 months ago

So... Is there MOLD or not?

Zacqary Adam Green · 4 months ago

You know, before Horizon Realty publicized this, I would never have known someone found their apartments moldy, let alone take it very seriously.

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

From another blog post about this. Horizon may have a tough time going anywhere with this one:

5-12-150 Prohibition on retaliatory conduct by landlord.

It is declared to be against public policy of the City of Chicago for a landlord to take retaliatory action against a tenant, except for violation of a rental agreement or violation of a law or ordinance. A landlord may not knowingly terminate a tenancy, increase rent, decrease services, bring or threaten to bring a lawsuit against a tenant for possession or refuse to renew a lease or tenancy because the tenant has in good faith:
(b) Complained of a building, housing, health or similar code violation or an illegal landlord practice to a community organization or the news media;

I sure hope so because the negative publicity for Horizon regarding this whole matter is going to bite them in the hiney, hard.

Amanda, if you read this: set up a blog and ask for donations. You'll get them. You shouldn't have to spend your hard-earned money defending yourself from bullies.

M@ · 4 months ago

What's really funny is, in 140 characters or less, someone can gather enough info to sue! When I read the tweet, I see the word "Horizon" and think... hmmm, could they be talking about the sun setting over that horizon. It's amazing that the word "Horizon" was probably the only word in this tweet that caused the problem. If I am a defense attorney, I would argue that "Horizon" is a word in the dictionary, and has a meaning that has nothing to do with a company.

"We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”...
... shame on you Horizon... I mean the sun setting, not the company! NOT!

ChangeTheProcess · 4 months ago

This is a prime example of just how ridiculous our legal system has become. The taxpayer should be suing this company for wasting taxpayer money on an unmerited lawsuit. Lawyers in this country are allowed to bring frivolous, unwarranted lawsuits that waste the time of outrageously congested courts, and cost the taxpayer not just in the cost of the clerks, facilities, judges, etc. One of the main factors that raise the cost of medical coverage the most is the cost of malpractice insurance, whos ridiculously high rates are due to lawsuits that should never have been allowed. We place no requirements on attorneys to have to prove the basic merits of a case before they're allowed to file suit. The result? Some old lady got millions from McDonald's because of her own stupidity in putting a cup of hot coffee in her lap. She should have been given an alzheimer's test and had her car keys taken away - not awarded millions! Attorneys should have to prove that 1) their clients have made every attempt to resolve the issue first. 2) that damage has occured! No suing just because of a maybe something might happen. 3) that the damage was clearly caused by the person/company being sued - not because their client acted stupidly. We should not have to have warning labels on our hair dryers that say "don't use this in the shower"!!!!!!!!!!! Optional 4) a basic common sense/intelligence test for their clients to see if the problem is really that a person/company is causing harm, or that their client is just too stupid to be allowed to hold a cup of coffee.

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

"We place no requirements on attorneys to have to prove the basic merits of a case before they're allowed to file suit. " > could not agree with your more here... WHEN are we going to fix our legal system? Too many lawyers filing ridiculous lawsuits. And the REAL criminals like Maddoff and so many, many others get away with murder and more (just an expression, please don't sue me, okay?) ENOUGH!!!

Gus Snarp · 4 months ago

This seems like an easy answer, but it's just not that simple. Who get's to decide that the client was stupid? That's what courts do, make decisions based on all the evidence. It's a flawed system, sure, but let me know when you find something better that is fair to all parties and doesn't give someone arbitrary power to decide that someone is just being stupid. Also, the poor McDonald's woman is such a misleading story. We don't know the facts of that case, as I understand it she was severely burned - more so than one would expect from a liquid you were supposed to drink.

ChangeTheProcess · 4 months ago

Most governmental systems have some sort of basic qualification process prior to obtaining services. There is no reason that some sort of qualification process couldn't be put into effect to determine the basic merits of a claim prior to allowing that claim to be pursued in the court system. We have the right to legal redress, but no one has the right to abuse the legal system, even though that abuse rages rampant through the system currently. As for the old lady and McDonald's - she put something she should have known was boilingly hot (that's how coffee is made - hot water - every coffee drinker on the planet knows this) in her lap - McDonald's did not tell her to put that coffee in her lap, nor should they be required to do so. Nowhere in the documentation of that case did it state that this was her first cup of coffee either.

Eduardo Resende · 4 months ago

Congratulations, Horizon (a company I would never know it existed if it wasn't for this, by the way)! How many people would see this tweet if you didn't have the brilliant idea of suing this girl? Less than 50, I'm sure. And now you managed to get this "wrongful accusation" widespread attention... Couldn't you guys just let it fall into oblivion? No, I guess you couldn't, you're "a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization", after all. Nice way to digg a story! I smell litigation fail...

Sharlene · 4 months ago

I feel real bad for all the other realty companies with Horizon in their name!

If you really read the PDF of the complaint, you'll notice that (aside from spelling errors and age), that the Sun-Times who broke the story couldn't reach Bonnen, but could reach the plaintiff right?

The court docket doesn't reflect whether Bonnen has been served or not either.

It all seems to me that their law firm, Hardt Stern Kayne, thought that this would be a fantastic PR opportunity for them and encouraged Horizon Realty to sue and generated the PR at the expense of their client.

Any lawyer worth their muster and with a drop of understanding of Twitter knows you can't wrangle negative publicity without generating more unless you actually address the person directly.

randelaw · 4 months ago

So - who will be the person to contact Horizon and sell them on social media damage control? Anyone, anyone?

Tom · 4 months ago

Horizon has "a good reputation to protect"? This will do wonders for it. Will I get sued for saying so?

pamhastings · 4 months ago

Because of the remark "We're a sue first, ask questions later", instead of being careful to not mess with this company, I will instead be sure to never do business with this company at all and will tell everyone I know to do the same. Simply the wrong philosophy there Bob...

Kate · 4 months ago

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”

Ha! Can't believe any sane intelligent person would actually say that out loud. Not the best way to back up his claims that Horizon “has a good reputation to protect".

Del Wratten · 4 months ago

Ok, agreed, in this particular situation they (Horizon) have probably over reacted and done themselves more harm than good. What if the tables were turned? What if the company libelled the client? What if after paying good dollars for a service to be delivered, you the individual, made a passing comment of dissatisfaction? What if in fact you were only RT another twitter comment in agreement? Now that business goes on the attack via twitter. Calls you names, makes unkind reference to your appearance, involves other twitter users by sending @mentions to them with untrue remarks about your credentials and literally names you or makes reference to you that is unmistakably you. And we are talking followers in the 1400 range. Now how do you feel? Do you think you should get a refund for services from this business? Do you think you can get Twitter to remove these comments? Do you think you have a case to sue? Is this freedom of speech or an abuse of someone's rights? I'd really be interested to hear all your opinions - as this really did happen to some folk. Feel free to reply @delwratten

zippystarshine · 4 months ago

IMO, yes, you would have a case to sue if you could prove they libeled you or caused you harm. If they have libeled you, you have a case.

In Amanda's case, we do not know for sure if she has committed libel or not because we do not know if 1/there was in fact mold and 2/if she has a paper trail to prove it.

In law, it's about money and proof. And money tends to count a lot more than proof. Keep that in mind if you decide to sue the company that has flamed you.

Del Wratten · 4 months ago

Thanks for your comment.

Savory Tv · 4 months ago

Unbelievable. Huge fail on Horizon's part. I'm glad their bad karma is coming back to bite them!

m jones · 4 months ago

Horizon Realty Group is now the top example for the Streisand Effect wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

Eric Fickes · 4 months ago

This lawsuit is ridiculous, but the fact it is receiving so much attention falls under one of the reasons I love Twitter so much. It's the reality check a lot of people and companies have been needed.

I won't deny there's probably more noise than signal on Twitter, but I'm sure you get my meaning here.

@ericfickes

Jeffrey · 4 months ago

I happen to know a former Horizon employee who is testifying for the defendant. Horizon has some pretty substantial evidence to refute if they think they're going to win this. It's only defamation if you can prove that it's a false statement. Good luck with that, Horizon. LOL.

Joe Hage · 4 months ago

“We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization.”

That's not all you are. I'd elaborate but don't want to get SUED!

Capper · 4 months ago

The way I see it is originally the "moldy story" hit her 20 followers. Now the negative PR has spread to thousands. Bad move Horizons - tweets work both ways.

Dee · 4 months ago

Wow. And Horizon Realty is so certain there wasn't any mold it's going to sue? Really? I'm just floored. Only state I've lived in where I've rented and the rental wasn't moldy SOMEWHERE was New Mexico. Now at 6500 feet and bone dry, moisture doesn't hang around long enough for mold or mildew. Further north I've lived, the more troubles with mold and/or mildew. Doesn't seem to matter who the landlord or property management is or if it's a "good" rental as opposed to a slum. If it's humid and/or in a place that doesn't dry out as quickly as a blast furnace, there's going to be mold and few apartments are ventilated anything near properly which makes the chances for mold and mildew even worse. Personally, I'm betting they're just mad the truth got out that there IS mold in apartments they rent, even if just part of them.

Besides, doesn't the realty company need to prove not just that it was untrue but that it was posted with fraudulent or other malicious intent? I don't see how they have any standing to sue or to demand she pull the tweet without legal grounds that it was an improper public "statement" in the first place. All I can see is legal bullying, "we didn't like that you said that in public, so we're suing for more than we figure you have in hopes you'll cave to our demands".

destiny1 · 4 months ago

Wow. And Horizon Realty is so certain there wasn't any mold it's going to sue? Really? I'm just floored. Only state I've lived in where I've rented and the rental wasn't moldy SOMEWHERE was New Mexico. Now at 6500 feet and bone dry, moisture doesn't hang around long enough for mold or mildew. Further north I've lived, the more troubles with mold and/or mildew. Doesn't seem to matter who the landlord or property management is or if it's a "good" rental as opposed to a slum. If it's humid and/or in a place that doesn't dry out as quickly as a blast furnace, there's going to be mold and few apartments are ventilated anything near properly which makes the chances for mold and mildew even worse. Personally, I'm betting they're just mad the truth got out that there IS mold in apartments they rent, even if just part of them.

Besides, doesn't the realty company need to prove not just that it was untrue but that it was posted with fraudulent or other malicious intent? I don't see how they have any standing to sue or to demand she pull the tweet without legal grounds that it was an improper public "statement" in the first place. All I can see is legal bullying, "we didn't like that you said that in public, so we're suing for more than we figure you have in hopes you'll cave to our demands".

destiny1 · 4 months ago

Wow. And Horizon Realty is so certain there wasn't any mold it's going to sue? Really? I'm just floored. Only state I've lived in where I've rented and the rental wasn't moldy SOMEWHERE was New Mexico. Now at 6500 feet and bone dry, moisture doesn't hang around long enough for mold or mildew. Further north I've lived, the more troubles with mold and/or mildew. Doesn't seem to matter who the landlord or property management is or if it's a "good" rental as opposed to a slum. If it's humid and/or in a place that doesn't dry out as quickly as a blast furnace, there's going to be mold and few apartments are ventilated anything near properly which makes the chances for mold and mildew even worse. Personally, I'm betting they're just mad the truth got out that there IS mold in apartments they rent, even if just part of them.

Besides, doesn't the realty company need to prove not just that it was untrue but that it was posted with fraudulent or other malicious intent? I don't see how they have any standing to sue or to demand she pull the tweet without legal grounds that it was an improper public "statement" in the first place. All I can see is legal bullying, "we didn't like that you said that in public, so we're suing for more than we figure you have in hopes you'll cave to our demands".

Talina · 4 months ago

Wow, that is a joke! I understand how tweets are technically publications like blogs and that what you write can in fact damage a reputation and be grounds for a lawsuit.

But hey, if she's got mold I say bring on the lawsuit. We just moved from our own moldy house and that stuff is no joke!

lainer · 4 months ago

SHAME on Horizon Realty for suing first. I will never deal with this company. This Tweeter had one comment that reached 20 people, and Horizon just made it a huge story and they have egg on their faces. Great job!

Cathode Ray · 4 months ago

That's why you probably shouldn't use your real name on Twitter.

lindajohannesson · 4 months ago

Funny, I thought you could tweet or say just about anything about your own personal experience - so much for freedom of speech (or tweet) - I'll be surprised if they see a penny, especially because it's probably true - normal people don't make this stuff up. And, how is this different than Oprah and her beef comment? Get used to it companies, you're going to hear a lot of comments you don't like - you can see them as opportunities to do better or to sue....hopefully more will adopt the former.

benfranklin1982 · 4 months ago

Based on the screenshot of the @abonnen page, are Spirit Air, McDonalds, and O'Hare airport going to sue her now too? How insane.

Adam · 4 months ago

So, they would rather draw tons of attention to themselves and sue over someone with 20 followers? Rather counter productive if I do say so.

Wack · 4 months ago

I guess they never heard of that little thing called "freedom of speech"... Ho well... They'll get destroyed on Twitter now. Good for them.

Kimber Scott · 4 months ago

They have to PROVE damages. Plain and simple. Their lawsuit is causing more damage to their reputation than that guys Tweet ever could. Twenty followers and an offhand comment and they sue. Ridiculous. And I don't mean that in a good way, either.

JJ · 4 months ago

wow ... time to LOCK down your profiles!!!

JJ · 4 months ago

wow ... time to LOCK down your profiles!!!

kipp · 4 months ago

"..sue first ask questions later" The tweet did not effect my perception of this company, that comment did.

juslen · 4 months ago

Here comes the retweet! This lawsuit will die really fast.

DGentry · 4 months ago

"How much damage can a Tweet do? "

How much damage can a social media feeding frenzy do?

DGentry · 4 months ago

$50k for the damage to their reputation from a tweet is nothing compared to the damage they've done to their own reputation. Googling for Horizon Realty in Google will turn up links to this incident for years. They'll have to change the name of the company.

daemon09 · 4 months ago

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RantBombBoy · 4 months ago

Screw Horizon and their moldy apartments, they can kiss my butt.


http://rantbomb.com

Stan Williams · 4 months ago

Now I know why I am so paranoid :)
Seriously though, I agree with the general concensus that the suit will hurt their rep. more than the relatively obscure tweet would have...

Wikus du Plessis · 4 months ago

That's absolutely ridiculous. If she had to post the same thing on TripAdvisor would she have been sued as well? Obviously she wasn't impressed with the apartment and expressed her opinion..

Wikus du Plessis · 4 months ago

That's absolutely ridiculous. If she had to post the same thing on TripAdvisor would she have been sued as well? Obviously she wasn't impressed with the apartment and expressed her opinion..

Deborah · 4 months ago

what's ironic about this story is ... they've sued the tweeter in question because of arguably bad publicity (to ... wait for it ... 20-30 people) about mold. then as a result of the media attention, they themselves publicize to the world ( ummmm... how many billions?) that they are a sue first ask questions later type of organization.

well, they just got taken off my go to realty list. i think that's called cutting off your nose to spite your face.

congratulations horizon realty on a great marketing campaign.
way to shoot yourself in the foot.

phpcollection · 4 months ago

Really what the f**k twoment !

She should won , It's high time when industrialist should honour customers opinion !

NatMich · 4 months ago

I actually do think there is something to be said for people needing to be honest in the presentation of their opinions (separating and making clear what they definitely know and what they think they know). After all, it would be unfair for people to post whatever false defaming information they wanted.
And Horizon is claiming that what @
abonnen
said is "obviously false".

Even assuming this is true, I am still very confused by Horizon's action, even just from an economic stance. It will take money and time to organize a lawsuit against this woman. I think a more cost-effective approach would have been to address her concerns directly through Twitter- ask her why she feels the way she did (presumably this comment didn't just come out of nowhere), try and determine if there was a misunderstanding or maybe if they need to improve in some way. Conducted effectively, I believe this approach would both help Horizon determine how to prevent future comments/tweets like this and would also probably make @
abonnen
happy as her concerns would have been addressed and taken into consideration.

This current approach of "sue first, ask questions later.." seems much more expensive and from what I have seen so far, seems to have drawn far more attention to this tweet than it would ever otherwise have gotten.

Jack · 4 months ago

This is more than just a social media fail... For me this sums up everything that's bad about our 'desperate to sue', 'money-grabbing', 'me me me' culture. I hope they go bust.

skeptical · 4 months ago

I love the way everyone ASSUMES that Horizon's response has cost them more than $50K. I wish everyone would stop drinking the twitter/social media Kool-Aid.

Where is any demonstrated proof that it has cost Horizon anything?

JanSimpson · 4 months ago

If the information she gave was false? then it is defamation - if they suffered any loss - if it was true - no defamation - simple as that - and no amount of money nor lawyering is gonna make it true that someone could sue for $50K - takes a lot more than one little comment

Brian · 4 months ago

Calling it defamation is a stretch, the comment was at a co. not a person a co doesn't have a character and is not a living person so this whole lawsuit is a joke.

anyone · 4 months ago

This.... .. this is just Wrong.. one's Opinion is One's Opinion!

Fuck Twitter and fuck this so called "Freedom of Speech"

I'm Not American by the way :)

circleofluv · 4 months ago

I dont see what the fuss of this issue is about because what apartment or home have not had a little mildew at some time seen or unseen,unless someone came out to check to make sure that everything is okay. thanz

Maxwell Adams · 4 months ago

horizon conducts it's business in the typical chicago mafia style. but if they're not careful they may get 'rubbed out'.

Stew Brennand · 4 months ago

Comments like these are said everyday in all parts and in many situations. Horizon has nothing to gain from this and it's freedom of speech being exercised by the accused. Frivolous lawsuits do more harm to public perception towards those who issue them then they're worth.

vlad · 4 months ago

Wow! its interesting/Thanks for post.

ghost · 4 months ago

Wow! its interesting/Thanks for post.

gennadiy · 4 months ago

Wow! its interesting/Thanks for post.

gennadiy · 4 months ago

Wow! its interesting/Thanks for post.

Kether · 4 months ago

When I move to Chicago I WONT contact Horizon Realty

Brian · 4 months ago

This is ridiculous a person should be able to complain all they want it sounds like the Realty co. thinks they have lots of money to burn what a bunch of dopes.

eRINA · 4 months ago

WHAT IDIOTS!!!!!THEY PROBABLY WANT THE 50GRAND TO CLEAN HER APARTMENT UP, AND SAVE THEMSELVES SOME MONEY. GLAD I DON'T LIVE IN AMERICA.HERE IN NZ THERE OFFICE WOULD'VE BEEN BURNT TO THE GROUND,AFTER HURLING OLD TEA BAGS AND ROTTEN VEG AT THEM.LMAO.BIG COMPANIES ARE A JOKE.

Lynn Morton · 4 months ago

Is it just me or is the comment he made about how they "are a sue first, ask questions later kind of organization" way worse than the original tweet?

And I find it really interesting that since they made such a big stink about it more people have now heard it than ever would have originally.

Anonymoose · 4 months ago

I just put on my twitter "HORIZON REALTY DOES NOT SUPPORT FREEDOM OF SPEECH", and linked to this, lol.

SpiritualShow · 4 months ago

This sounds like a ridiculous law suit. I don't know all of the ins and outs of libel law but give me a break. The news of this company suing over a tweet to 20 followers is much more negative than a quick tweet about having mold in her apartment. "We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”. That pretty much says it all.

SpiritualShow · 4 months ago

This sounds like a ridiculous law suit. I don't know all of the ins and outs of libel law but give me a break. The news of this company suing over a tweet to 20 followers is much more negative than a quick tweet about having mold in her apartment. "We’re a sue first, ask questions later kind of an organization”. That pretty much says it all.

shelia32 · 4 months ago

A sue first ask questions later type of company is definitely one I would never do business with

shelia32 · 4 months ago

A sue first ask questions later type of company is definitely one I would never do business with

shelia32 · 4 months ago

A sue first ask questions later type of company is definitely one I would never do business with

Craigy · 4 months ago

Will Horizon sue first ask questions later for their own staffers badmouthing tweets? http://clicktoanswers.blogspot.com/2009/08/tire... probably.

benpitman · 4 months ago

How many more peiple do you think found out about this due to them suing?

cool. · 4 months ago

cool.

Cat · 4 months ago

Who closed Amanda Bonnen's Twitter account? Twitter management or Ms. Bonnen herself?

Marc · 3 months ago

What if her friend had just said to her, "Would it be Okay with your landlord if I stay with you for a while? Someone told me that I should not stay in this moldy apartment."
Her reply then makes Horizon look very generous, caring and kind by allowing her friend to stay for a while.

Marc · 3 months ago

What if her friend had just said to her, "Would it be Okay with your landlord if I stay with you for a while? Someone told me that I should not stay in this moldy apartment."
Her reply then makes Horizon look very generous, caring and kind by allowing her friend to stay for a while.

pete · 3 months ago

Horizon Realty is horrible for suing without asking to remove it or any sort of desist order right there shows they are rude people without regard for others which back's up the tweet's in question's claim... it also points out that they stalk their tenants online, how else would they have come across it (with only 20 followers) unless they stalked this woman. also how much money could they have possibly lost over a comment that 20 people read before they themselves blew it up to the media, obviously now everyone has read it because it is they made it news... any twitter related lawsuit is going to be huge news. so if anything they ruined their own reputation. Are they going to sue me now for pointing out the truth? maybe they should sue themselves for making this so well known.

martinhiggins · 2 months ago

The woman used their company name in a tweet. If they aren't huge, that tweet could very well have been on the first page of results for their company. All companies need to guard their reputations, the ones who are sh***y to their customers/clients have to work especially hard.

She is not in the best legal position. The company cannot prove that there is NO mold, because there are mold spores almost everywhere on the planet. The problem is that she may be asked to prove that they 'think it's okay' I hope they dropped it after making their point (the point being that they are mean and have lawyers)

vishwanathkurup · 2 months ago

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Phill · 2 months ago

I think that if someone is going to sue they should have to prove their damages. In other words who reas this and then said I won't rent or do business with them. Tort should have to be present.

P. Dill · 1 month ago

what happened to the first amendment, does it still exist in America?

Minneapolis Apartment Guy · 1 month ago

Has there been any followup on this? Did they end up getting away with actually getting the money from her? I haven't heard about it in awhile.