Yelp Asks California High Court to Slap Down Restaurateur’s Suit Over Review Filter | Thomson Reuters Blog

Yelp’s statements to consumers about the accuracy of its review-filter software are protected speech, the website operator has told the California Supreme Court.

In an Aug. 28 petition for review, Yelp urges the high court to overturn a recent appeals court decision allowing restaurateur James Demetriades to proceed with his false-advertising suit against the site.  The company says the state’s anti-SLAPP statute protects Yelp’s statements about the review filter.

Source:  Thomson Reuters

I discussed this case at length in the 10th episode of the California SLAPP Law Podcast. The tables have been turned on Yelp. After suing one law firm for alleged fake reviews, this plaintiff is suing Yelp for fake reviews about itself. Yelp claims that its reviews are trustworthy, despite all evidence to the contrary.

Nonetheless, it pursued an anti-SLAPP motion against this claim for false advertising, and lost. It is now appealing that loss to the California Supreme Court.

 

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