Decision made? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jury makes unexpected decision in Yelp defamation
> suit
>
> Both the homeowner and contractor in the Yelp
> defamation suit are partially to blame, a jury
> decides.
>
http://www.wtop.com/149/3553801/Jury-makes-unexpec
> ted-decision-in-Yelp-defamation-suit
>
> FAIRFAX, Va. -- The jury in the case of a Virginia
> homeowner sued for posting negative reviews of a
> contractor online has reached an unexpected
> verdict.
>
> The jury deliberated for eight hours before
> determining that contractor Chris Dietz and
> homeowner Jane Perez had both defamed each other.
> Neither party has been awarded any financial
> compensation in the case and there will be no
> punitive damages.
>
> The case was supposed to set a precedent for
> either the free speech of online reviewers or for
> the businesses to have a right to fight back
> against online reviews that are determined to be
> inaccurate.
>
> The contractor seeking damages claimed the
> homeowner's statements on Yelp and Angie's List
> were not true and cost him clients.
>
> Contractor Chris Dietz says the work he did at
> Jane Perez's Virginia home was professional. She
> says she had to have it all redone and posted
> reviews of her experience working with Dietz
> online, comments that he says are lies.
>
> Dietz asked for $750,000 in damages for the lost
> business he says her reviews cost him.
>
> Attorneys for both sides earlier said the case
> will be tough for a jury to consider because of
> the complexity of dealing with defamation. They
> presented closing arguments Friday morning in the
> week-long trial that could further protect the
> free speech of online commenters.
>
> The jury began deliberations about 10:30 a.m.
How did Dietz come up with a 750K number? Seems very unreasonable. Also how is it defamation if the company did a bad job?