Two former employees of ABC Estates who posted critical Google reviews of the company using made-up names face paying out £60,000 each and must make an apology in open court, according to friends.
Dhir Doshi and Thomas Govan, who claimed to have acted in the public interest, failed in a court action to strike out a libel and defamation claim in December last year, clearing the way for a full trial.
Richard Davidoff, his wife Hanni and grown-up daughters Tamara and Debby, ABC Block Management Limited and ABC Hendon Limited claim Mr Doshi and Mr Govan had accused them of fraud, dishonesty, permitting staff to steal from tenants and posting false positive reviews on social media.
The two were identified as the authors of anonymous critical reviews by means of a “Norwich Pharmacal application” that revealed the IP addresses used for the reviews: this process has been deployed frequently to identify anonymous postings online.
It is understood that the two had until April 8 to decide whether to apologise in open court and pay damages and costs or risk the matter going to full trial. A hearing has been set for 9 May in the Queen’s Bench Division to hear the apology in open court (below)
On March 31 Sir Peter Bottomley tabled an early day motion, so far signed by five MPs:
“That this House is concerned about how customers and employees can safely raise questions of business practice; and calls on the Select Committee on Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to invite Richard Davidoff to give evidence of his experience.”
Related posts:
Two ex-employees of ABC Estates fail to stop Richard Davidoff defamation action over critical Google reviews with fake names (and ‘face £36,000 costs so far’)
Sir Peter Bottomley calls on ministers to listen to ‘whistleblower’ ex-employees of Richard Davidoff (of ABC Estates)
Richard Davidoff of ABC Estates expelled from IRPM
Richard Davidoff, of ABC Estates, ‘breached his fiduciary duties’ after disastrous performance as a court-appointed manager, rules property tribunal
Well, can Sir Keith Lindblom do anything about Richard Davidoff’s continuing role as an officer of the property tribunal?
Nothing to do with us, says Poltair Homes CEO, over 80 blighted shared ownership houses in Cornwall
Surely the Queens Bench Division of the Royal Courts of Justice has better things to do than to give a platform to ABC Block Management Limited and Richard Davidoff?
Both entities’ reputations are pants anyway judging from the many damning First Tier tribunal rulings that are in the public domain.
I advise they go for a full trial. If they can back up their anonymous online claims with evidence then they will WIN. They must not allow themselves to be intimidated.
I was was sued by an employee who works for an offshore ground rent speculator.
I was asked to sign a document preventing me from assisting leaseholders attempting to escape the clutches of the GR speculators management company.
I told them to shove the document up their A#SE! They sued and LOST. Had to pay my legal fees.
I hope LKP let me write a piece about ‘ My Journey’…. I was MAGNIFICENT. The judge thought so, anyway!
The defendant in this case should crowd fund and FIGHT THIS CASE. Better to die on one’s feet then live in one’s knees.
(Well done Kim – most of us posting here have had to fight hard, it seems).
“Must apologise in open court “???
Davidoff’s relentless pursuit of two ex-employees says as much about his character as about his attempt to manage his reputation
It s for the ex employee to stand their ground and go for a full trial. If they can produce credible evidence to support their anonymous postings then they will win
Perhaps they chose to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. Who knows.
I do hope that they stand their ground as I did.
2days in the witness box at the RCJ resulted in Justice and VICTORY, and i ain’t finished yet!
Thing is , Leaseholders, campaign organisations, charities should be full square behind the defendants in this case.
WTF are they?
I sense a deep injustice here.
The actions of the two former employees are a form of whistleblowing. Whistleblowers should be protected from prosecution …..
Well what are leaseholder campaigners and LKP going to do,about this “deep injustice “? Fine words butter no parsnips.
I think the problem here with the LKP that because they have achieved success in getting some things done by giving their time for free, that gives them the right to be let off the hook when they don’t come to these two guys rescue. They will probably argue that there is not enough hours in the day and all that sort of rubbish
Obviously you have experience and I think rather than ask the LKP to step in, show those people who sit on the touchline saying how terribly bad it all is and doing nothing how to help
Yes, I do have experience. No, I will never be intimidated. Yes, I do have the heart of a lion. I just wish that the individuals ( defendants) involved had contacted me, which was impossible because they do not know who I am. I really wish this matter had been more publicised and action taken ( crowd funding) by campaigning groups.
I am not even sure If they have caved and apologised in open court? There is no follow up on this site.
It`s hardly any wonder that London is seen as the libel capital of the world, where seemingly anyone can use the Queens Bench Division as a weapon of attrition to squash justified criticism, provided, of course, they have the money.
Having been there, sued In 2013 by someone who has been repeatedly described in the Commons as a “latter day Rachman” and where my follow-up report referred to the use by them of false evidence given in Courts.
Thanks to the kindesses of a number of London counsel, the case was settled before the hearing – but when a later police investigation provided the irrefutable evidence that documents previously tendered in evidence at a County Court to secure an order had been forged, a subsequent application to have the libel claim reviewed was declined on the grounds that I had entered into the settlement voluntarily and therefore the findings could not be displaced.
I can`t comment upon the is case as I know nothing about it – but the plaintiffs, as I enjoyed, will need all the help and support they can get.
If you decided to “ settle” then I certainly hope the the settlement was in your favour.
If one has credible evidence to support their claims then they I will win. I did.
I would not allow myself to be bullied or frightened.