Online reviews and the risks of public allegations

Posting about a dispute can affect settlement and create a separate defamation issue. Before publishing, distinguish verifiable facts from assumptions and preserve the records supporting what you intend to say. Removing a post later may not eliminate the consequences of its earlier publication.

If you receive a legal demand about a review, keep the exact post, publication dates, edits, audience information, and correspondence. Defamation can involve special rules, defences, notice requirements, and deadlines. Do not assume a general Small Claims Court procedure answers every publication dispute. A lawyer assessment may be necessary, particularly for injunctions, Superior Court proceedings, or complex publication issues. A private demand focused on the original transaction may be more useful than escalating the dispute publicly.

Before posting, consider whether the statement can be supported by the records and whether it goes beyond describing your own experience. An allegation of crime, dishonesty, or professional misconduct can raise issues different from reporting a late delivery or disputed invoice. Do not assume adding in my opinion turns a factual accusation into a protected statement. Keep any existing post and later edits accurately recorded. If a dispute is already underway, disclose the publication to your representative so related risks can be assessed.

If a demand arrives, obtain prompt advice rather than responding with another public allegation. Preserve the exact wording, date, platform, available audience information, and supporting transaction records. Defences and special notice or limitation questions require a context-specific assessment; a general two-year civil rule may not answer them. Where the relief sought includes an injunction or a matter outside paralegal authority, arrange the appropriate lawyer referral. The original consumer or business claim can still be assessed on its own merits without assuming that a public review is the best way to obtain payment or a refund.

Sources

• Ontario Libel and Slander Act
• Ontario guide to making a Small Claims Court claim

Read next: Making the first call about an Ontario legal problem

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

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This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.