US company sues woman over her 1-star review on Google, claims defamation

Starr Manufacturing Inc. has sued Julie Watson for defamation following her 1-star Google review, which claimed the company faced quality issues.

Updated on: Aug 22, 2026, 18:05:53 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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A company has initiated legal action against a woman following her one-star review on Google. Starr Manufacturing Inc., a family-owned business based in Ohio that produces industrial equipment, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Columbus resident Julie Watson.

Starr Manufacturing Inc. has taken legal action against Julie Watson for her one-star Google review, alleging defamation and seeking over $25,000. (Representational image/Unsplash)

This information comes from a legal complaint acquired by PEOPLE, which was submitted to the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas on August 12.

All on Starr Manufacturing Inc. complaint

According to the complaint, Watson “falsely and maliciously made claims” that the company experienced several quality and manufacturing issues with several customers in her public review on Google.

She additionally asserted that she “could provide names and addresses of additional people who could confirm these manufacturing issues,” as stated in both the complaint and her review. The company asserted that it suffered damages and “significant reputational harm” due to the review, according to the complaint.

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The plaintiff further expressed their belief that Watson will persist in posting and/or “publishing the false and malicious” claims against them unless a court intervenes.

Starr Manufacturing Inc. seeks damages

Starr Manufacturing is presently pursuing over $25,000, with the precise sum to be established during the trial, in addition to court costs and legal fees.

In a statement to People, Thomas Nader, the legal representative for Starr Manufacturing in the ongoing lawsuit, indicated that Watson has never been a customer of the firm, contending that the negative review was motivated by a "personal vendetta" involving Watson and one of the company's employees.

“This was the result of a personal relationship between the defendant and an employee of Starr Manufacturing,” Nader said. “[This lawsuit] is not about Starr Manufacturing being upset about a bad review from a customer. This is a personal vendetta.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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