Legal Question in Consumer Law in Maine

Consumer opinion being viewed as slander...

I was wronged by an Internet Service provider in Maine. The details are not important for this. I'll give this info if asked.

I contacted the BBB to get my options. They said there was little they could do.

Since then, I've posted to consumer websites, and told those that asked not to use this ISP.

One thing I did: while on the net, I'd see a person with the ISPs email. Example: I'd go to ''johns'' site and find in the contact page an email of ''[email protected]''. So, I knew that John was a customer of this ISP. So whenever I found an email (public), I'd email that user, explaining what happened to me & what could happen to them. I'd state that I wouldn't email again. I just wanted to share what happened to me.

I was contacted by a lawyer for the ISP. He threatened to persue legal action for the emails if I did not stop. My question:

Since the emails are public, is it within my legal rights to email my story to those?

I believe it is. These emails are public, everything in the email is truthful.

Any advice I could get on this would be helpful. If I am over my boundaries, please let me know.


Asked on 3/21/03, 1:57 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Gregory J. Roth Gregory J. Roth, PLLC

Re: Consumer opinion being viewed as slander...

Defamation is only one potential legal problem you may be getting yourself into, depending on the nature of your "advice." You might also run into tortious interference or privacy issues, depending on the facts. I would stop while you are ahead. Realistically, what do you expect to accomplish?

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Answered on 3/23/03, 10:44 pm


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