Woman files defamation lawsuit over comments made on Facebook

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT/Gray News) - A woman in Nebraska is alleging defamation after she said some comments made on Facebook have damaged her business.

A few months ago, food vendors could sell their products in a consignment store operated by Andrea Christensen.

“One of my strengths is that I help other people and I market them,” Christensen said.

However, Christensen now describes herself as a marked businesswoman after some posts made in the private Facebook group called Omaha Eats: Uncensored should have been censored, she alleges in a defamation lawsuit.

Christensen filed suit against one of the administrators, Lauren Henson, alleging the site allowed hateful, harassing and malicious posts.

Henson’s attorney asked a judge to dismiss the suit.

Haley Vinter listened to the arguments in court.

“This should be a lesson for whoever doesn’t like what they see on the internet, that doesn’t give them the right to take somebody to court because it hurt their feelings,” Vinter said.

Lisa French, a frequent poster on the site, is also named in the suit for posts that include calling Christensen a “liar” and a “cheat.”

“The plaintiff alleged in her own complaint that she was convicted of tax evasion and served time in jail for that, which we would submit is a crime of dishonesty, such that vague comments about her being a liar and a cheat are truthful,” Scott Jochim, the Facebook poster’s attorney, said.

WOWT investigated Christensen’s previous business and learned she served 21 days in jail for tax evasion.

Her attorney, Patrick McNamara, said truth is not a defense if the Facebook posts are malicious.

Christensen said she wasn’t aware of the hearing until she was contacted by WOWT. She told them she had to close her food consignment store in large measure because of the Facebook posts.

The store now sits empty after being open for about 11 months.

“It hurt [the women] and their business so they didn’t want to be associated anymore,” Christensen said. “They didn’t want to be associated anymore. That would be hard on your business if there are posts and things out there you don’t want to fight anymore.”

Supporters of the posts on Facebook said it should remain open to free speech.

The attorney for Christensen said the lawsuit is based on the Facebook page being used to stoke attacks on his client and individuals who did business with her.

However, defense attorneys argue the law protects Facebook page administrators from liability for posts and the lawsuit isn’t specific on what posts have caused financial damage.

The judge asked for more written arguments before deciding on the motion to dismiss.

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