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Landlord Sues Tenant Over Derogatory Tweet

Chicago firm claims libel after resident posts mold complaint

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 28, 2009 3:00 PM CDT

(Newser) – Twitter enthusiasts may want to watch what they write—a Chicago landlord has sued a tenant for libel after she posted a Tweet complaining about her apartment, the Tribune reports. “Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for you? Horizon realty thinks it’s okay,” Amanda Bonnen posted in May. Now Horizon is asking for $50,000 in damages.

“The statements in the Tweet concerning Plaintiff were and are wholly false. By reason of the publication of them, Plaintiff has been greatly injured in its reputation as a landlord in Chicago,” Horizon’s lawsuit reads. The suit does not specify the “great injury”—which may be difficult, given that Bonnen boasted just 17 followers.

Amanda Bonnen faces a libel suit after complaining about mold in her apartment.
Amanda Bonnen faces a libel suit after complaining about mold in her apartment.   (Wikimedia Commons)
In this photograph illustration a member of the social networking site Twitter follows the twitterings of friends during a work break on July 2, 2009 in Manchester, England.
In this photograph illustration a member of the social networking site Twitter follows the twitterings of friends during a work break on July 2, 2009 in Manchester, England.   (Getty Images)
Amanda Bonnen faces a libel suit after complaining about mold in her apartment.
Amanda Bonnen faces a libel suit after complaining about mold in her apartment.   (Wikimedia Commons)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 15 comments
Unaffiliated
Aug 26, 2009 1:17 AM CDT
Careful there, RQE. Don't want to get sued, do you?
Rembrandt_Q_Einstein
Jul 29, 2009 12:17 PM CDT
I live in Chicago and I can verify that Horizons apartment are horrible. They're really bad at fixing things, but if your rent is 5 minutes late, your phone will start ringing off the hook.
Yourself
Jul 28, 2009 11:26 AM CDT
it wouldn't have been an issue had they not brought attention to themselves by suing someone with just 17 followers.

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