Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Tennessee

If an apartment complex has on their website to leave comment, can they post only the positive responses and not post anything negative? I left a complex as I could not afford the rent. I had verbal permission from the prior manger to leave when I wanted with no penalties.We soon left. The new owners then served papers to my wife on her job suing us for $3300. Agreement was reached to pay $50 monthly. This past month we did not have but $25 to give so they now have garnished our only income for 25% of the check. I went to their website and posted my thoughts. They did not post it. They also deleted another negative post that slipped through the cracks. There are 3 pro comments. Why don't I have a right to publish my opinion?


Asked on 9/04/10, 3:02 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Howard R. Peppel Peppel, Gomes & MacIntosh, P.C.

The owner/manager of the apartment complex is also the owner of the website. As such, it has the right to determine what is and what is not published on its website. You are not being denied the right to publish your opinion as you are free to do so on your own website or some sort of public "blog" which encourages or welcomes free discourse.

As for the garnishment, you had an agreement with respect to a payment schedule and you breached that agreement; you failed to live up to your promise. Accordingly, they were perfectly within their rights to have the garnishment issued.

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Answered on 9/09/10, 3:42 pm


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