Can You Sue A Vendor For Destroying Your Google Reviews?

Can You Sue A Vendor For Destroying Your Google Reviews?

Business Defamation, Tortious Interference, And Protecting Your Digital Reputation In New Jersey

A company’s online reputation has never carried more weight. For many small businesses, Google reviews are one of the most visible and influential factors driving customer decisions. A sudden disappearance of positive reviews or a barrage of false negative ones can have an immediate and devastating effect on sales, search rankings, and credibility. When that harm is caused by a former vendor, contractor, or service provider, the natural question arises: can you sue?

The answer depends on the facts. New Jersey law does recognize causes of action for defamation and tortious interference, but these claims involve complex standards and significant evidentiary burdens. Digital harm is real, but proving it in court is more difficult than most business owners expect. Suing a vendor for harming your online presence is possible, but success requires a clear legal theory, admissible evidence, and a well-developed factual record.

Understanding the Legal Landscape: What Type of Claim Are You Bringing?

There is no single cause of action labeled “reputation damage.” Instead, claims involving online harm usually fall into one of two categories: defamation and tortious interference with economic advantage. In some cases, both claims may apply, depending on the conduct involved.

1. Defamation: False Statements That Harm Your Reputation

Defamation is the legal claim most often associated with online reviews. In New Jersey, defamation requires proof of the following elements:

• A false statement of fact

• Concerning the plaintiff

• Communicated to a third party

• With fault amounting to at least negligence

• That causes reputational or economic harm

  
  

In the business context, the plaintiff must typically show that the statement was not just negative but false and that it was presented as a fact rather than an opinion. Statements like “this business is a scam” or “they forged my documents” may be actionable. Statements like “I had a terrible experience” or “I would never use them again” are not.

If a vendor leaves negative reviews under false names, encourages others to post fabricated accounts, or manipulates content to create a misleading impression of the business, those actions may support a defamation claim if the statements can be traced back to the vendor and shown to be factually false.

However, if the vendor simply exercised their right to leave a critical review based on their experience, the statement is likely protected speech. New Jersey courts are particularly cautious in defamation cases involving public forums, such as Google, where the First Amendment rights of the speaker are weighed against the reputational rights of the business.

2. Tortious Interference: Wrongfully Damaging Business Relationships

Where a vendor intentionally disrupts your customer relationships or online reputation to harm your business, the proper legal theory may be tortious interference with prospective economic advantage. This claim focuses not on false statements, but on wrongful conduct that disrupts business expectations.

To prevail on a tortious interference claim in New Jersey, a plaintiff must prove:

• An existing or reasonably expected economic relationship with a third party

• The defendant’s knowledge of that relationship

• Intentional and wrongful interference by the defendant

• A resulting loss or damage to the plaintiff

  
  

If a former vendor deliberately manipulates your Google profile, reports false content to get your reviews removed, or engages in coordinated actions to discourage clients from using your services, those actions may support a tortious interference claim, particularly if they go beyond ordinary competition or opinion-based criticism.

For example, if a digital marketing contractor retains access to your business’s Google Business profile after termination and uses that access to delete positive reviews, change hours of operation, or flag content as spam to trigger removals, that conduct may be actionable. The interference must be both intentional and wrongful, not merely competitive or negligent.

Evidentiary Hurdles in Proving Digital Harm

Even where the law permits a claim, proving that a vendor caused harm to your online presence is difficult. Courts require more than speculation or suspicion. You must present concrete, admissible evidence that links the vendor to the conduct and quantifies the resulting damage.

This may include:

• IP address logs or digital forensics showing the vendor accessed or modified your Google Business profile

• Emails or messages in which the vendor admits or threatens to harm your online presence

• Evidence of economic loss, such as a decline in revenue or customer inquiries, directly tied to the loss of reviews

• Expert testimony on SEO or digital impact, showing causation between the vendor’s actions and the business harm

  
  

In many cases, businesses first discover review manipulation only after the damage is done. Positive reviews disappear. New negative reviews appear from unfamiliar accounts. Google support offers little information. Connecting that conduct to a specific former vendor often requires subpoenas, forensic analysis, or evidence from whistleblowers. Without that proof, the case will not survive a motion for summary judgment.

Practical Considerations Before Filing Suit

Litigation over online reviews or digital interference presents unique challenges. Judges are often skeptical of vague or generalized harm, especially when the plaintiff cannot show lost revenue or traceable causation. In addition, these lawsuits risk drawing more public attention to the negative content.

If you suspect a vendor has tampered with your online reputation, the first step should be to secure all digital records, including emails, logins, permissions, timestamps, and messages. Contact Google or the platform provider to identify unauthorized access or to preserve logs before they are overwritten. An experienced attorney can assist in issuing preservation notices and pursuing information through a pre-suit investigation or court process.

In many cases, resolution may come through demand letters, injunctive relief, or negotiated settlements, not a trial. However, if litigation becomes necessary, your success will depend on the strength of the evidence and the clarity of the legal theory asserted.

Conclusion: You Can Sue—But You Must Be Able To Prove

Vendors and former contractors who interfere with your business’s online presence may be liable under New Jersey law for defamation or tortious interference. But these claims are complex, fact-intensive, and heavily dependent on documentation. The legal threshold is not simply “they hurt my business,” but “they acted unlawfully, and I can prove it.”

Your business’s reputation is an asset, but defending it through litigation requires more than principle. It requires a strategic legal approach, a clear evidentiary foundation, and a realistic understanding of what courts will and will not do.

For more information about protecting your business’s reputation or to schedule a consultation, please contact the Law Offices of Peter J. Lamont at www.pjlesq.com, call 201-904-2211, or email info@pjlesq.com.

Contact us today to discuss your business or legal matter. Put our 20+ years of legal experience to work for you.

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For detailed insights and legal assistance on topics discussed in this post, including litigation, contact the Law Offices of Peter J. Lamont at our Bergen County Office. We're here to answer your questions and provide legal advice. Contact us at (201) 904-2211 or email us at  info@pjlesq.com.

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About Peter J. Lamont, Esq.

Peter J. Lamont is a nationally recognized attorney with significant experience in business, contract, litigation, and real estate law. With over two decades of legal practice, he has represented a wide array of businesses, including large international corporations. Peter is known for his practical legal and business advice, prioritizing efficient and cost-effective solutions for his clients.

Peter has an Avvo 10.0 Rating and has been acknowledged as one of America's Most Honored Lawyers since 2011. 201 Magazine and Lawyers of Distinction have also recognized him for being one of the top business and litigation attorneys in New Jersey. His commitment to his clients and the legal community is further evidenced by his active role as a speaker, lecturer, and published author in various legal and business publications.

As the founder of the Law Offices of Peter J. Lamont, Peter brings his Wall Street experience and client-focused approach to New Jersey, offering personalized legal services that align with each client's unique needs and goals​.

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