Man gets $115,000 after a random Facebook post destroyed his life and business
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Here's what happened.
Kenneth Rothe, the man awarded the damages, owned two hotels, the Nirvana Village and Blue Dolphin Motels, located in the Australian coastal town of Nambucca where he lived with his family.
One day, out of the blue, his hotels were accused of being a haven to pedophiles, a claim that the judge would later determine was baseless.
In March 2014, electrician David Scott posted, "Pedophile [sic] warning:- Nambucca has been used as a relocation for these monsters - blue dolphin -nirvana hotel and above the Indian restaurant! …Bus stops are right out front of theses hotels for our children?"
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Rothe often offered accommodations to people dealing with family disputes, but never to pedophiles.
In the wake of the Facebook post, Rothe started receiving numerous anonymous phone calls, and he says his life was threatened on two different occasions. One assault left him hospitalized for six months. Eventually, his family moved out of the coastal village.
Judge Judith Gibson, who presided over the case, said the post was written out of the blue, had no factual basis, and severely affected Rothe's life. Scott was ordered to pay Rothe.
"The anonymity, instaneousness and wide ranging reach of the Internet and social media make it a dangerous tool in the hands of persons who see themselves as caped crusaders or whistleblowers," Judge Gibson said.
NOW WATCH: London's 6 hottest Pokemon Go gyms
- I spent 2 weeks in India. A highlight was visiting a small mountain town so beautiful it didn't seem real.
- I quit McKinsey after 1.5 years. I was making over $200k but my mental health was shattered.
- Some Tesla factory workers realized they were laid off when security scanned their badges and sent them back on shuttles, sources say
- World Liver Day 2024: 10 Foods that are necessary for a healthy liver
- Essential tips for effortlessly renewing your bike insurance policy in 2024
- Indian Railways to break record with 9,111 trips to meet travel demand this summer, nearly 3,000 more than in 2023
- India's exports to China, UAE, Russia, Singapore rose in 2023-24
- A case for investing in Government securities