Social media defamation – How posting can cost you!

Recently, a Sydney couple were ordered by the District Court to pay their neighbour's $15,000 legal bill after he sued the couple for defamation following comments they made on Facebook about him and his dogs.

Mr Mohareb sued his neighbours, Mr and Mrs Palmer, after the Palmers posted a photo of a poster about Mr Mohareb on the Scotland Island community Facebook page, accompanied by their own comments.

The poster, which also had Mr Mohareb's photo on it, made numerous allegations including that Mr Mohareb was a "highly volatile individual who was prone to manic outbursts." Comments added by Mr Palmer included that he "may or may not be associated to Satan." The Palmers denied creating and putting the poster up around Scotland Island but didn't deny that they posted the image and the associated further comments.