Mass. Judge Won't Toss Internet Defamation Claim Against Florida Man

Keller Williams Realty (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Taylor et al v. Taylor et al, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Peter B. Krupp allowed an Internet defamation suit brought by Massachusetts realtors against a Florida defendant to go forward, according to Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.

The plaintiffs, realtors for Keller Williams Realty, allege they were defamed by their Florida-based soon-to-be former daughter in law, who they claim made anti-Semitic posts and accused them of engaging in real estate scams and withholding commissions.

The Florida resident sought to dismiss the Massachusetts suit brought by the plaintiffs on the ground that the Bay State was an improper forum to hear the case, but Judge Krupp disagreed, the Lawyers Weekly article reported. Judge Krupp noted in a brief opinion that the plaintiffs were Mass. residents and that the offending statements were meant to cause harm in Mass. and were made by someone familiar with the plaintiffs' business in Mass.