Haifa Court Orders Man to Pay 300,000 Shekels for Defaming Ex-Partner's Lawyer

The Haifa Magistrate's Court partially upheld a defamation lawsuit filed by a lawyer against her former client’s ex-partner, who launched a prolonged campaign of online slander against her. Judge Avishai Robas found the defendant responsible for four defamatory posts and ordered him to pay approximately 300,000 shekels in damages and legal fees.

The lawyer claimed the defendant targeted her because she represented his ex-partner in court, posting dozens of disparaging remarks across various platforms. He allegedly called her a "liar," "fraudster," "betrayer," and "extortionist," accused her of fabricating police complaints, deceiving clients, and violating ethical rules. She cited 35 YouTube videos and an August 2021 article where she was insulted with terms like "male extortionist," "case maker," and "blue-and-white gold digger." The lawsuit sought one million shekels for 44 defamatory publications attributed directly to the defendant.

The defendant denied responsibility for many posts and claimed those he admitted to were fair consumer criticism or protected opinion. He argued the lawyer had initially acted as a mediator between him and his ex and later represented her, using information he provided, justifying his warnings to the public.

Judge Robas dismissed the claims related to the YouTube videos, ruling insufficient evidence that the defendant posted them. However, he held him liable for sharing the defamatory article and posting a harsh Google business review accusing the lawyer of alienating his children and calling her "liar," "fraudster," and "betrayer." The court found these accusations unproven and disproportionate, thus not protected by truth defense.

Additionally, two Facebook posts by the defendant calling the lawyer "scheming," "quarrelsome," "lying," "deceptive," and "treacherous" were ruled defamatory. The judge emphasized the defendant repeatedly made serious false claims intending to harm the lawyer’s professional reputation. Consequently, the defendant was ordered to pay 60,000 shekels for each of the four defamatory posts, totaling 240,000 shekels, plus 50,000 shekels in attorney fees and court costs.