Attorney-Rating Website Sued by Attorneys

In 2007, Avvo, Inc., an attorney-rating website, was sued by some attorneys who opposed Avvo’s numerical rating system (or more specifically, the number Avvo had awarded them). Avvo argued that the rating system was non-actionable fact, and the court agreed. Avvo’s site also allows consumers to post comments.

Although federal law protects Avvo from liability for the statements posted by others, Avvo reports that attorneys frequently go after clients who post run-of-the-mill, negative reviews. These threats often result in reviews being retracted or “corrected.”

See Browne v. Avvo, Inc., Case No. C07-0920RSL (W.D. Wa. Dec. 2007).