An Ohio-based family-owned manufacturing company has filed a defamation lawsuit against a woman over a one-star Google review, accusing her of making false and malicious allegations about its quality and manufacturing practices.

Starr Manufacturing Inc., which makes industrial equipment, filed the lawsuit against Columbus resident Julie Watson in the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas on August 12, according to a legal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

The case centres on a public review that the company claims caused significant damage to its reputation and business.

Starr Manufacturing alleges that Watson “falsely and maliciously made claims” about the company, including accusations of quality and manufacturing problems involving several customers.

According to the complaint, Watson also wrote that she “could provide names and addresses of additional people who could confirm these manufacturing issues.”

The company has denied the allegations and claimed that the review harmed its reputation. It further argued that Watson could “continue to post and/or publish the false and malicious allegations” unless a court intervenes.

Starr Manufacturing is seeking more than $25,000, approximately ₹23.93 lakh in damages, with the final amount to be determined at trial. The company is also seeking reimbursement for court costs and attorney fees.

Thomas Nader, the lawyer representing Starr Manufacturing, told PEOPLE that Watson was not a customer of the company and had never done business with it.

“The defendant is not a customer of Starr Manufacturing and has never been a customer of Starr Manufacturing,” Nader told PEOPLE.

He alleged that the review was connected to a personal dispute between Watson and one of Starr Manufacturing’s employees rather than an actual customer experience.

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

Watson could not be reached for comment, PEOPLE reported.

The case has also drawn attention because of Starr Manufacturing’s relatively small number of Google reviews.

According to information cited by PEOPLE, the company has 13 Google reviews in total. Watson has posted several reviews on Google over the past seven years, with her review of Starr Manufacturing reportedly being the only one-star rating among them.

Lawsuit highlights legal risks around online reviews

Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity.

With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture.

She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes.

Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.

Stay updated with the latest Trending, India, World and US news.

Download the Mint app and read premium stories

Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. It'll just take a moment.

Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.