Dallas, TX (November 1, 2019) — Cowles Thompson Shareholder, Bill Siegel, was successful in pursuing a defamation, business disparagement, and negligence case that involved a negative Yelp review for our client dentist and his dental practice.
The dentist had contracted with a digital marketing agency for online marketing promotion and business development. Unfortunately, issues arose between the parties and they ultimately tried the matter in an arbitration proceeding, which ended in favor of the agency. Because the dentist failed to pay according to the arbitration award, the owner of the agency placed a negative review of the dental practice on the popular review website, Yelp.com. While an element of the review correctly stated that the agency had refused to pay the amount awarded in the arbitration proceeding, the reviewer went on to tie the dentist’s refusal to pay the agency with whether the public could trust the dentist with their health.
Bill Siegel was successful in arguing that attempting to correlate the statements pertaining to the arbitration award and the dentist’s ability to practice dentistry constituted defamation, business disparagement, and negligence resulting in damages being awarded to the dentist. The client was awarded: special damages of $550,171.21 in compensatory damages; $100,000 general damages for emotional pain and suffering; and $500,000 exemplary damages for willful and malicious conduct.
William (Bill) Siegel
Bill Siegel is chair of the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights practice. He also works with clients on matters related to commercial litigation, business transactions, and real estate. He has represented individuals and business entities in their corporate and transactional affairs; as well as debtors, creditors, Trustees and committees in bankruptcy matters in Chapter 7 liquidations and Chapter 11 reorganizations. Bill has a particular interest in the retail sector and working with commercial landlords and tenants on the inception of agreements and contracts, revisions thereto, and related disputes and resolutions.
Cowles Thompson
Cowles Thompson, LLC is a full-service law firm with offices in Dallas and Plano, Texas. Established in 1978, the firm has long served the Dallas-Fort Worth region, Texas, and the nation. Cowles Thompson attorneys strive to provide effective, creative, efficient solutions for their clients’ most complex problems, including critical litigation and appeals, employment, business formation and transactions, creditor’s rights and family law.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
David Metzler, Managing Partner: 214-672-2167, dmetzler@cowlesthompson.com
Teresa Martin, Marketing Director: 214.672.2506, tmartin@cowlesthompson.com
