Occasionally a person with a problem thinks “maybe I should consult an attorney.” The person considers his or her circumstances, and then decides the problem is too strange or embarrassing to be shared with an attorney. Lawyers, however, are no stranger to the bizarre. Here are merely two examples of real tort cases. Please note that while these are real cases, this law firm was not directly involved with either of them; for reasons of confidentiality, real cases handled by this firm cannot be discussed on this blog.
Case #1: Looking for a sweet way to incorporate healthy eating into his diet, Jason Saidian turned to Krispy Kreme Donuts. He figured the raspberries and blueberries in the Glazed Raspberry Filled and Glazed Blueberry Cake donuts would count towards his daily fruit serving. Unfortunately, Krispy Kreme never saw themselves as sitting squarely on the healthy food pyramid. They used food flavoring and coloring instead of the real deal. Saidan filed a $5 million dollar lawsuit claiming false advertising. As of November of 2016, the case was still ongoing.
Case #2: The Better Business Bureau exists to help consumers find trustworthy businesses. They give businesses a letter grade; the higher the letter, the better and more trustworthy the business. Leif’s Auto Collision Centers begged to differ.
In 2010 Leif’s Auto Collision Centers, a large auto repair center in Oregon, filed suit against the BBB. The suit came after the company was graded an “F” by the BBB. Leif’s claimed their grade was given solely because they refused to pay membership dues.
For proof, they pointed to a dummy company named Hamas (yes, named after the Palestinian nationalist group which has been designated a terrorist group by a number of governments). The Hamas Corporation, a fictitious organization that had conducted no business, had paid their annual dues. They received an A-.
Leif’s sued the BBB claiming defamation and tortuous interference. The auto repair group demanded the BBB play fair and give Leif’s back its reputation.
Individuals and companies alike stand to lose a lot when an entity claims false advertising or messes with their reputation. If you have been the victim of defamation, you may wish to consult a lawyer to determine how to best get your reputation back.
