Book Reviewers Can Be Sued?

PZ Myers, Ph.D., Division of Science & Math, University of Minnesota, Morris is being sued by the nitwit, Stuart Pivar.  Pivar wrote this book: [Lifecode: The Theory of Biological Self Organization].  Myers reviewed it poorly and Pivar thinks that's a valid reason to sue. 

Dr. Myers:

He claims to have a revolutionary idea for how evolution works, but his ideas have no connection to reality, and these lovely elaborate drawings he made look nothing at all like actual embryos. The bottom line is that I said his work was more about the evolution of balloon animals than biology.

Sure, it's harsh, but it was probably justified.

I have reviewed a lot of books.  I read a lot of books and I review them as I find them.  Some bad, some good.  I tend to review more books I like than ones I don't like because I get to choose the books I read and I like to read books I'm going to enjoy.  I know, that's strange, but it's how I roll.

What do you sue a reviewer for?  Assault, Libel, and Slander of course.

- rick, risking litigation

Comments

[a rose is a rose]

at least it's not over a pair of pants!

i just cannot believe why some of these lawsuits aren't tossed BEFORE they get anywhere
crunchy or smooth peanut butter anyone?

[Cherise]

I have reviewed some bombs, a lot of them actually, perhaps I should contact, a lawyer... ;)

[Tim Mulcahy]

Let's not all get into a panic yet. Most of these lawsuits are meritless and federal judges, busy as they are, do have ways of tossing the really bad ones fast. The thing that gets me is how these guys find lawyers to take on these cases.

Then again, when reviewing books and you have that really great nasty line that you think is funny and scathing, I would suggest not using it. Even in cases of public figures, malice is a basis for a law suit.

[Cele]

I'm thinking that a review is personal opinion. When you review a book you are giving your personal opinion.
I don't believe you can sue a reviewer on that basis. If you could think of where the Rotten Tomatoe people or the Razzies would be, they wouldn't be able to afford a free website and blog to post their opinions, let alone fund their awards.

And in court (if it were to make it that far) he would have to proved that Myer's review hurt the position of his book. Ergo prove that Myer's was wrong. hmmm, balloon animals anyone?

[Cele]

And speaking of balloon animals, is it just me or are other people just grossed out by the man and the balloon animal dog on Sci-fi channel?

[Success Warrior]

People will go to great lengths to stop other people from saying stuff they don't want to hear. We should enact a law or something that gives us the right to say what we want about how we feel.

[mark]

yes Cele, that has always kinda gotten a "what the f...? from me...

[jane]

I don't know that balloon animal dog on Sci-Fi channel, but it reminds me, on a recent This American Life, they interviewed a master balloon-animal-maker, and the SOUND of balloon animals being made is awful! Like the squeakiest door in the haunted-est house ever.

I don't have a comment on this lawsuit, except the suer seems like a baby.