A Wisconsin Realtor gets 18 months (probation) for criminal defamation…

… after writing on ActiveRain that another Realtor was linked to the Russian mob.

*note: I added the word “probation” into the title to be more clear!

About Dustin

As the founder of Seattle's Rain City Real Estate Guide, I love to talk, discuss and implement social media strategies that drives business in real estate. In following this passion, I founded 4realz.net Social Media Strategy and regularly speak about social media strategies to real estate audiences. You can connect with me on LinkedIn, become a fan on Facebook and follow me on twitter at @tyr.
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17 Responses to A Wisconsin Realtor gets 18 months (probation) for criminal defamation…

  1. Pingback: Green Bay, Russian Mobs, and Real Estate | The Deets

  2. He should have spent more time prospecting and he wouldn’t have gotten in trouble.

  3. Dustin says:

    No doubt… still shocking to hear someone got 18 months for something they said in ActiveRain!

  4. Russell Shaw says:

    It looks like his sentence was 18 months PROBATION. Not jail time. He only goes to jail if he violates his probation.

  5. Dustin says:

    Good call Russell. I honestly don’t know how I missed that when I wrote the post… so I just adjusted the title.

  6. Russell Shaw says:

    Prior to the settlement with NAR and the DOJ I once wrote an entire lengthy post about the DOJ based on me having completely misunderstood MY main point. I only realized what I had not understood once it had been posted. It was then I could start the rewrite process. :-)

  7. You know, this might sound a little naive but there’s this quote that I like and try to live by:

    “I will speak ill of no one. And I will speak all the good of everyone I know.”

  8. Toga says:

    I’m speechless….

  9. Monika says:

    He is probably very lucky…I wonder if the other party will sue for damages? In either case how stupid can people be????

  10. Mindy Allen says:

    I can only say “woohoo”…finally someone made to adhere to the code of ethics…by a court…of course not by the N.A.R. You don’t talk about other real estate agents, it’s unprofessional. I don’t go to work to watch a soap operas do you? Also placing it in such a public location is obscene. The thing I don’t get, and have been struggling with in this business is that it seems to attract a lot of people with skewed moral compasses…when you mess with another agents reputation it inhibits their ability to provide for themselves, to feed their families and it infuriates me every time I see it or hear it.

  11. Paul Dunn says:

    Just like email, never EVER write anything when you are ticked off at someone! Unless of course, you are good at hitting that delete button…LOL

  12. Dustin says:

    Great comments all around. If we kept attacks out of the professional real estate space, we’d all be best off!

  13. Marlow says:

    What a weird situation. I Googled the victim and found this still online on a different website: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/329/RipOff0329839.htm

  14. Dustin says:

    Wow, Marlow… I love your ability to find the juicy stuff! ;)

  15. Property Investment says:

    Be careful there is no fall out from Marlows link. I enjoyed reading it of course, we all like the juicey gossip, but even if you take slurs with a pinch of salt, its always there in the back of your mind. Best to always smile and nod.

  16. It is a shame to see such comments made by any Realtor. “Draft” mode is always a good feature to allow time to cool off. At one point or another we all get angry, but a professional knows when to show it and when not to.

    George

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