CHICAGO — A CEO is suing Yelp Inc., seeking expedited discovery in connection with alleged defamation.
Frank Cucco, individually and as CEO of Impact Networking LLC, filed a complaint on Jan. 20 in Cook County Circuit Court against Yelp, alleging a reviewer on Yelp posted defamatory statements about the plaintiff.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges he sustained damages to his reputation in 2016 that also impacted his company, Impact Networking LLC. The plaintiff says a reviewer identified as "Joe K." posted defamatory statements about the plaintiff on Yelp, including false claims that the plaintiff was skimming taxes, had filed bankruptcy and had cheated the state and government.
The plaintiff seeks a court order requiring Yelp to provide information that could help identify "Joe K." The plaintiff is represented by Michael J. Cucco of Cassiday Schade LLP in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court Case number 2017L000663