$338,000+ Award for Ohio Physician After Yelp Defamation Case

(June 1, 2026, Cleveland, OH) – Minc Law recently secured a $245,000 judgment and more than $93,000 in attorney fees for an Ohio physician targeted by a damaging Yelp review. The judgment was later affirmed in full on appeal.

Our client is a board-certified OB/GYN. After providing surgical care to a former patient years earlier, he found himself the subject of an online review that falsely accused him of serious crimes against patients. The allegations were the kind that could end a medical career overnight. Yelp eventually removed the post for violating its terms of service, but the harm to his reputation, his practice, and his well-being had already been done.

By the time he came to Minc Law, our client had also been drawn into years of repeated litigation by the same individual, who had filed lawsuits in Cuyahoga County, dismissed them, and refiled them over the same underlying treatment, even improperly naming his family members. Every one of those cases had been dismissed, but the pattern made clear this would not be a straightforward matter.

Litigation Attorney Michael Pelagalli led the case for our client, with support from attorney Sarah Kolick. Michael brought years of courtroom experience representing physicians and other medical professionals in online defamation matters. After deposing the defendant, Michael moved for summary judgment. The court granted the motion, ruling that the online statements were defamatory per se because they falsely accused our client of indictable criminal offenses and directly attacked his profession, thereby precluding the need to prove malice and damages under Ohio law.

After a two-day bench trial on damages, the court awarded our client $245,000 across reputational injury, mental anguish, loss of companionship, and punitive damages, plus $93,437.47 in attorney fees. The defendant appealed, and in April 2026, the Ohio Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling in full.

If false statements online are threatening your reputation, your professional license, or your career, the right legal team can make a meaningful difference. Minc Law represents physicians, surgeons, dentists, mental health providers, and other licensed professionals across Ohio and nationwide in internet defamation and online reputation litigation matters. Call Minc Law at 216-373-7706 or visit minclaw.com to discuss your situation.