Locksmith Sues Over Honest Review

A man named Michael Kearns called a locksmith, only to find they couldn’t even install a deadbolt—leading him to leave a blunt Google review comparing them to a donut shop without coffee. Instead of taking it as honest feedback, the company sued him for defamation, claiming his words damaged their reputation. His lawyer quickly shut down the case, ruling that Kearns’ review was protected opinion and that the company couldn’t prove any business loss. The locksmith owner claimed Kearns never used their services and accused him of being part of a competitor’s smear campaign, but Kearns insists he updated his review only as events unfolded. This case, part of a troubling pattern of at least 11 similar lawsuits from the company, highlights how businesses can’t legally silence critics over honest reviews—and may set a powerful precedent for free speech online. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f97775254d6efdb3