# French Lawyers: Food blogger gets sued for negative review, what's going on? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2014, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254 "2014-07-16T08:55:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/21 "2014-07-16T14:53:20Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > -He thinks the court erred, sanctioning what was just, in fact, a food **critic** by an unhappy customer. **clairobscur** , just FYI, in English, that bolded word would be either critique or criticism, preferably the former. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/22 "2014-07-16T15:12:13Z")
As noted in the original link: _“Here’s yet another business that, when confronted with a negative review, thought to itself, “Why not deter EVEN MORE potential patrons from ever considering setting foot in our establishment?” There are many ways to react to criticism, and Il Giardino, an Italian restaurant located in France, opted for “catastrophic.””_ Apparently the restaurateur in going ballistic over a post in an obscure blog, never heard of the [Streisand effect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect). I’m reminded of a Chinese food restaurant that we used to go to years ago. They got cited for relatively minor violations by the Dept. of Health. Instead of just fixing them and moving on, the owner decided he’d been unfairly maligned and went on a crusade (complete with local media coverage) to right the wrong. The restaurant closed not long after that. Apparently business did not boom following all the publicity. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/23 "2014-07-16T15:23:56Z")
The French word for \*critique \*is _critic_? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/24 "2014-07-16T15:25:33Z")
I expect he just didn’t know the English word for critique is also critique. Or it’s an autocorrect error. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/25 "2014-07-16T15:38:17Z")
In his defence it’s y’all’s fault for having an inconsistent language. You can criti_c_ally criti_que_ a restaurant, which makes you (along with everybody :)) a critic, who may or may not be then criti_c_ized. What the hell is up with that ? (whereas French, for once not being deliberately confusing as hell, is all about the critiques.\* Un critique peut critiquer critiquement\*). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/26 "2014-07-16T15:45:07Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > it’s y’all’s fault for having an inconsistent language. I blame the French, for loaning us so many interesting and useful words (and at such a low interest rate). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/27 "2014-07-16T15:59:06Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > In his defence it’s y’all’s fault for having an inconsistent language. You can criti_c_ally criti_que_ a restaurant, which makes you (along with everybody :)) a critic, who may or may not be then criti_c_ized. What the hell is up with that ? It’s a valid criticism. The differences are critical. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/28 "2014-07-16T16:19:11Z")
Critical Restaurant Theory says this is all a plot to keep the proletariat food service establishment down. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/29 "2014-07-16T16:55:04Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > -She made a naive € 2500 mistake by not hiring a lawyer who would just had to quote a ruling of the “cour de cassation” Or she thought the attention she’d get from this lawsuit would net her more than €2,500. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/30 "2014-07-16T17:04:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s a valid criticism. The differences are critical. 😃 I lol’d so hard I crit myself.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/31 "2014-07-16T17:53:42Z")
Is there a distinction made between a blogger (what I’d call a “citizen journalist”) and an established newspaper, with paper and ink and everything? Or is it just that if somebody says bad things about your business you get to sue them, regardless of where they sit? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/32 "2014-07-16T18:42:19Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Or is it just that if somebody says bad things about your business you get to sue them, regardless of where they sit? In the U.S., one can always sue, even without grounds. The trick is winning in court. Regarding the French case in the OP: can an American blogger, in viciously criticizing a restaurant, pretty much count on an American judge to summarily throw out such cases? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/33 "2014-07-16T20:10:39Z")
There is the case of American economics Mike “Mish” Shedlock being fined 8,000 euros for quoting French blogger Jean-Pierre Chevallier on the leverage of mega-bank Societe Generale. The bank disputed this so naturally the Financial Markets Authority (AMF) figured banks never lie and fined because free speech is not French. They haven’t collected any money from Shedlock but his lawyer has advised him not to visit France. > **[Lawyer Advises Me "Don't Go to France"; French Pub Fined €9,000 for Using...](http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2013/12/lawyer-advises-me-dont-go-to-france.html)** > > A few days ago my lawyer advised me " Don't go to France " (not that I had any plans to of course). The advise, coupled with the message " F... ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/34 "2014-07-16T20:37:50Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Regarding the French case in the OP: can an American blogger, in viciously criticizing a restaurant, pretty much count on an American judge to summarily throw out such cases? It depends on what the blogger is saying, and on whether it’s true. If it’s all statements of opinion (“this restaurant blows!”) then there is no liability. If there are false statements of fact (“this restaurant serves rotting beef”) then there is probably a valid libel action. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Little\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/35 "2014-07-17T07:50:57Z")
This thread is making me so [hungry.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA2ys8C-lNk) ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/36 "2014-07-17T12:36:13Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > **clairobscur** , just FYI, in English, that bolded word would be either critique or criticism, preferably the former. Thank you. Hope I will remember it. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I expect he just didn’t know the English word for critique is also critique. Correct. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/37 "2014-07-17T13:41:33Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > …Bloggers would be well advised to buy a €50/ year legal insurance and use it to hire a lawyer if/when sued. Being one of the 3/4 of British people, referenced **[here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_expenses_insurance)**, who had never heard of legal insurance, I _like_ the idea of having a crack team of lawyers eager and ready to fight for me for €50 a year. _Attack My Ducky Minions !_ ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/38 "2014-07-17T15:01:02Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > I blame the French, for loaning us so many interesting and useful words (and at such a low interest rate). "The trouble with the French economy is they don’t even have a word for ‘entrepreneur’ " -G.W. Bush (OK, ok, he didn’t really say that, but it’s too good a fake quote not to repeat here.) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/39 "2014-07-17T15:41:54Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > In his defence it’s y’all’s fault for having an inconsistent language. You can criti_c_ally criti_que_ a restaurant, which makes you (along with everybody :)) a critic, who may or may not be then criti_c_ized. What the hell is up with that ? > > (whereas French, for once not being deliberately confusing as hell, is all about the critiques.\* Un critique peut critiquer critiquement\*). Meanwhile the restaurant, having deployed the nuclear option, is heading towards a state of critiqual mass. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254/40 "2014-07-17T16:19:31Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > 😃 I lol’d so hard I crit myself.😛 Natural 20? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/french-lawyers-food-blogger-gets-sued-for-negative-review-whats-going-on/693254.md?page=1)