The first plaintive defamation case I ever took on there’s a reason because defamation claims are the hardest claims to prove and defamation claims if you win at trial are the hardest to keep on appeal. Andrea Polito she’s a wedding photographer in Dallas one of the most well-known photographers in Dallas came to me after her clients, a husband and bride went on NBC and claimed that she was holding their pictures hostage. They went on social media to self-promote and defamed her all over the internet. Andrea never booked another wedding. So after two and half years of hard fought litigation lawyers attempting to dismiss the case at every turn, we got our day in court, Andrea was vindicated by a jury in Dallas County holding those defendants liable for defamation and awarding punitive damages.

I believe this case sends a message that freedom of speech is not freedom from consequence. That what you say and what you do behind a computer screen can have a very material impact on people’s lives. It can hurt people and their businesses tremendously. What I’ve learned since that case, since that verdict and having receiving messages from people all over the country is that this is going on in every city. The attacks going on online and there’s a difference between providing a fair opinion and maliciously attacking a business with false statements of fact or purported fact and that hurts another with the intent to hurt another one. And what I’ve learned, what Andrea has learned is that this is happening to everyone every day and I hope that this case that our case sends a message that there are repercussions. There are consequences for your actions and for your speech.