Longueuil restaurant owner threatens legal action over fake reviews

A Longueuil restaurant owner is considering legal action over allegedly fake Google reviews she says have damaged her business.

A restaurant in Longueuil is threatening to sue some people who posted negative reviews of their establishment on Google.

The owner of Mouth Power, who requested CTV News not to identify her, claims the comments are fake and damaging to her business.

“Our profile was bombed with bad reviews from people that we never met,” she said.

The controversy allegedly began with a negative review left by an Ontario woman who went into the restaurant to use the washroom. The restaurant has a policy that the washroom is reserved for paying customers.

After an argument with the owner, the woman allegedly posted a one-star review on Google.

The story made its way on Reddit, and that’s when the restaurant got flooded with bad reviews, according to the owner.

She claims the people leaving bad reviews are just jumping on a social media bandwagon aimed at making her restaurant look bad.

“You have never been to our place. You can express yourself, but please write something true,” said the owner.

CTV News spoke with a lawyer who said leaving bad reviews can potentially get you in legal trouble.

“It could be a one-star review, but … it can also go further saying false claims or claiming things that never happened [and] that could be considered as defamation,” said Marc-Antoine Héroux of Dubé Latreille Lawyers Inc.

Héroux says what needs to be proven in court is whether the plaintiff lost business or if their reputation has been affected.

The owner claims she did lose business and is asking for $3,500 in damages.

She sent out a notice to the people who left negative reviews, but that letter was posted on Reddit prompting more people to leave bad reviews.

That post has since been taken down.