Re: Garden Design

**Larry Maupin larrymaupin@sbcglobal.net>**

on 4/29/02 11:04 AM, Lon J. Rombough at lonrom@hevanet.com wrote:

>> Please, ya'll, this is a GWL site -- and that does not stand for a
>> gossip worry list.
> 
> I have to agree with the sentiment here.  We had a major problem discussing
> Garden Design and it's problems one other time and I'd prefer that only
> information that is KNOWN* to be true be posted to the list.  Keep other
> comments off-list, please.
> *Preferably that which has been verified by  other independent sources.
> -Lon

Lon's comment prompts me to mention a tread I followed on a pond gardening
forum that may raise some concern here. It seems that someone posted a story
on the forum describing their dissatisfaction with an poor quality order
received late with excessive freight charges from a particular on-line
vendor of aquatic plants. Others chimed in with their problems, and someone
offered to display the offending company's logo on his site with a warning
about their poor service. Others agreed to spread the word about this bad
company. One individual hacked into the plant company's computer to find
customer info.
As the bad word spread, the company learned of this and filed suits against
everyone involved for a total of $15 million in damages. The company cited
damaged computer systems, loss of sales, loss of reputation, severe anxiety,
etc.
The court ruled in favor of the company and various fines were doled out.
The hacker paid approximately $4500, which was half the cost of repairs.
Other individuals paid lesser amounts. Everyone had attorneys fees, and
everyone lost in the end.
Though you may say, "it's only us with some comments on the internet" but
the court did not see it that way. A precedent has now been set. We are
liable for malicious comments that may or may not be founded in truth. A
lawyer friend of mine says that the defense for either libel or slander is
truth. If you speak the truth and can back it up, even in court, fire away.
I don't mean to discourage a professional exchange of real information that
we all can use; but be sure it's true, or you and others involved may be
liable.
That's my 2 cents worth.
-- 
Larry Maupin
Maupin Photography
Freelance Garden Writer/Photographer
Member, Garden Writers Assoc. of Amer.
larrymaupin@sbcglobal.net
Dallas, TX   214/341-3933

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