OLG Bamberg: Negative assessment of a lawyer is permissible criticism!

OLG Bamberg: Negative assessment of a lawyer is permissible criticism!

Bamberg, Deutschland - an outcry in the legal profession! The Higher Regional Court of Bamberg has decided that the assessment of a lawyer as "not particularly capable" is not a abuse criticism and is covered by freedom of expression. The law firm behind this negative Google review must accept the criticism. The annoyed client rated the law firm after unsatisfactory support in a traffic accident affair with just one of five stars - a judgment that is not only painful for the law firm, but also potentially damaging to the reputation.

The law firm tried to have the negative assessment extinguished in court and argued that it was violated in its right of personality. But the OLG could not be convinced. The judges confirmed that the assessment is a permissible expression of opinion that contains subjective impressions and evaluating statements. The core of the decision is clear: the plaintiff's freedom of expression has priority, and the firm is not entitled to failure or deleted the review. A sigh of relief for the critics and a hard blow for the lawyers! Further details on this spectacular case can be found here .