In the US, a couple have been sued by their former landlord after leaving two bad Google reviews – but the tenants claim they were subject to new strict property rules and even faced a parking fine during a snowfall.

Eric Magnuson and Elizabeth Sargent began renting a property in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, in August 2023. Before long, they began receiving emails about rules and charges from their landlord, David Karademas, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

One was a US$500 ($858) fine if a pet urinated on a plant that wasn’t the grass. Another was a $100 ($171) fine if the cardboard boxes weren’t broken down properly when disposed of.

Then, in November 2025, Karademas emailed saying the tenants had to move their cars by 9am on days when there was more than 5cm of snow.

Magnuson was fined and posted a one-star Google review under a pseudonym to complain.

“They just tried to fine us $100 for not moving a car after snowfall even though the car was moved by 9am and IT WAS STILL SNOWING.”

Karademas replied to the review, revealing the tenant’s real names and address, the couple told the Sentinel.

A Wisconsin couple were after leaving two bad Google reviews for their landlord. Photo / Unsplash

“Your complaint seems to revolve around the fact that Bay Village has rules and that the rules are enforced,” Karademas wrote, according to the Sentinel. “I stand guilty as charged.”

Magnuson then posted a second review calling out the “public doxxing” – which means publishing private or identifying information on the internet, typically with malicious intent – but acknowledged he and other residents were 45 minutes late moving their cars.

He also questioned the legality of the fines.

Karademas, a lawyer and owner of multiple properties, demanded that the reviews be removed and that the couple sign a non-disparagement agreement so they couldn’t post any more negative reviews, according to the Sentinel.

The couple removed the reviews but refused to sign the agreement and thought the matter was over.

But two months later, Karademas filed a lawsuit, claiming the reviews were defamation and amounted to “extortion” designed to get the couple out of their lease.

“As the proprietor of a family-owned business, that reputation is all that stands between me and oblivion,” Karademas told the Sentinel.

The case has drawn attention to the fact that Wisconsin is one of only 11 US states without anti-SLAPP laws – legislation designed to protect people from lawsuits intended to silence public criticism.

The couple have filed to have the case dismissed, but no ruling has been made.

“You shouldn’t be able to sue someone to give up their free speech rights,” Sargent told the Sentinel.