---
title: Fake Restaurant Review Results in Massive $8,200 Fine
description: It's fine to leave a bad review, but a judge just punished someone who left a bad review for a restaurant that hadn't even opened up yet.
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published: '2015-11-09T18:01:26.000Z'
modified: '2015-11-09T18:01:26.000Z'
section: Lifestyle
tags:
  - Libel
  - online ratings
  - online reviews
  - restaurants
  - Reviews
word_count: 193
canonical: https://money.com/fake-restaurant-review-france-fine/
type: Article
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> **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/).

![New Restaurant coming soon sign](https://img.money.com/2015/10/151030_em_fakereview.jpg)

Trolling can sometimes be [good-natured and fun](http://gizmodo.com/ken-m-is-the-most-epic-troll-on-the-internet-1739028329). But one recent cautionary tale reveals that it can be very unwise to bash others--and businesses in particular--without at least a hint of legitimacy.

The fake review, written about Loiseau des Ducs in Dijon in 2013, noted that the portions were small, and that the restaurant was overrated. Currently, the restaurant has [163 TripAdvisor reviews](http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187111-d4802145-Reviews-Loiseau_des_Ducs-Dijon_Cote_d_Or_Burgundy.html) and a [Michelin star](http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Restaurant/Dijon-21000-Loiseau_des_Ducs-414353-41102), one of the highest achievements a restaurant can attain. Obviously, the owners weren't happy about the fake review, and unlike many other businesses who suspect negative reviews are fake but struggle to prove it, the people in charge of Loiseau des Ducs could do something in this incredibly clear-cut case.

“We wanted to see the case through to teach a lesson to these people who comment to destroy,” owner Ahlame Buisard [told *Le Monde*](http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2015/10/27/2-500-euros-d-amende-pour-avoir-denigre-un-restaurant-sur-internet_4798047_3224.html).

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