US Landlord Sues Tenants Over Negative Google Review

David Karademas, a landlord in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, has filed a defamation lawsuit against former tenants Eric Magnuson and Elizabeth Sargent after the couple posted negative reviews of his management practices on Google.

According to court records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Magnuson and Sargent began renting the property from Karademas in August 2023. The dispute centered on allegations from the tenants regarding undisclosed extra fees and the enforcement of strict property rules.

Dispute Over Snow Removal Rules

The tension escalated in November 2024 when Karademas sent an email to his renters establishing a 9 a.m. Deadline for moving vehicles during snowfall. Magnuson subsequently posted a one-star Google review under a pseudonym, claiming he had been fined $100 for failing to move his car by the deadline despite the fact that snow was still falling.

Do NOT rent from these people, Magnuson wrote of Karademas Management. They are sleazy, greedy and truly awful people.

Google Review via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Karademas responded to the review publicly, which the tenants claim resulted in the disclosure of their real names and home address. In his public reply, Karademas wrote that the complaint revolved around the fact that the property had rules and that those rules were enforced, adding, I stand guilty as charged.

Following this exchange, Magnuson posted a second review. In this subsequent post, he criticized what he described as public doxxing and noted that he and other residents had been 45 minutes late in moving their vehicles.

Legal Action and Damages

Karademas has since sought legal recourse, filing a defamation suit in Wisconsin. The landlord is seeking an injunction, as well as monetary and punitive damages.

Reports indicate that Karademas demanded the couple remove the negative reviews and sign a non-disparagement agreement.

The legal proceedings highlight a specific challenge for the defendants: Wisconsin does not currently have an anti-SLAPP law. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) laws are designed to allow courts to quickly dismiss lawsuits that are perceived as attempts to silence critics or intimidate individuals from exercising their right to free speech on matters of public interest.