I have received the following email from a concerned vacationer who posted some online complaints about a particular vacation rental:
QUESTION: "Can you tell me if you have heard from other consumers who post that the owner has contacted them threatening legal action? The owner is threatening defamation and business loss due to my reports on consumer complaint sites.Thoughts? Suggestions?"
ANSWER: There is absolutely nothing the owner can do as your truthful complaints are protected by The First Amendment of the US Constituion, which guarantees freedom of speech. There is no authority to prevent this free speech because it would be unlawful "PRIOR RESTRAINT" on our personal right to speak freely and publish the truth. This is a fundamental principle of US Constitutional Law. If the information you have provided is truthful, it is a complete defense to any claim or cause of action for defamation.