One Yelp user is finding herself the target of a nasty defamation lawsuit. Her negative Yelp review, as well as posts on ZocDoc and Health Grades, have cost her $20,000 in litigation fees thus far and could total more than $1 million if she loses the suit.
Last July, Manhattan resident Michelle Levine visited Dr. Joon Song of New York Robotic Gynecology & Women’s Health for an annual checkup after finding his practice online. She expected the examination to be free, under her insurance policy, but after the visit, Song’s practice billed Levine’s insurance $1,304.32 for the visit. She had to foot $427 of the bill, which was not covered by her insurance.
Levine also alleges in the case that Joon did not perform a manual pelvic or breast exam, things she was billed for, instead only asking about her menstrual cramps then conducting an ultrasound. When she called the office to inquire about the issue, they insisted that the manual exams had been performed and that because she had complained about pelvic pain, an ultrasound was also performed. Levine says she never complained about pelvic pain issues.
“I was so disgusted, I wrote a review on several sites, including Yelp, ZocDoc and Health Grades,” Levine said. She wrote: “Very poor and crooked business practice. I suspect that this doctor gives unnecessary procedure [sic] to a lot of people and then charges the insurance sky high prices and no one knows the difference.” She went on to say that everything about her singular visit to the doctor “caused emotional distress and panic,” and expressed disgust at the idea of having to pay an additional $500 for these services.
On ZocDoc, she wrote that the doctor gave her a “false diagnosis” so she would return for a second visit and forced to pay $500 for services that were not necessary.
Two weeks after posting the review, the business’ lawyer sent her an email informing her she was being sued. The suit is calling for $1 million in damages for false postings and online harassment.
A Yelp representative told ABC News that it’s rare for businesses to sue their customers and that some states, such as California and Texas, have laws in place to protect consumers against retribution for negative reviews. New York, the state where this case is taking place, does not.
While Levine had good intentions to warn other would-be patients about her negative experience, it’s a good reminder for online reviewers that some businesses will fight back over disparaging reviews.
H/T Marketwatch