Careful What You Tweet For
Twitter, the 140-letter wonder of the internet, may 
end up teaching us
the weight of our words. In Chicago, a woman was sued for defamation due to a
"tweet" commenting on her realty company.
As all people who experience frustration with realty companies tend to
do, the woman made a short one-sentence complaint regarding the condition of
her apartment, stating, "...Who said sleeping in a moldy apartment was bad for
you? Horizon realty thinks it's okay."
The
woman is now a defendant in a case brought by Horizon Group Management, a
limited liability company in Illinois. It seems that griping via Twitter may be
more risky than the individuals using the new media thought it would be. The
outcome of this case may lay down clearer lines concerning the privacy of a
Twitter page. (The woman only had 20 followers).
This current case serves as a warning for any Twitter subscribers. Until
the case is dealt with by the court, it is unclear what users can or cannot say
on Twitter. This incident does serve as a reminder that what is stated on the
internet may end up being the subject of serious debate and may give "tweeters"
pause before they state something.
It is also of interest to note that the
woman's entire Twitter page was included in Exhibit A of the plaintiff's
complaint, not just the single "Tweet" regarding Horizon Group Management. It
is unlikely that this Chicagoan thought that her entire Twitter page would be
published in a complaint and available for public consumption.
This case, regardless of its outcome, is a good reminder to
all Twitter users to think before you tweet. At Sivia Business & Legal Services, we want our clients to be aware of any laws or court opinions that may affect their daily lives. If you know of any topics or legal news you would like to see in our newsletter, please call or email our office today.
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Direct Sales
These days, it seems nobody's job is secure. 
Big businesses have been forced to lay off record numbers of employees due to the current state of the economy. Small business owners
may have been hit hard during these times, too, but individuals
formerly employed by a large businesses are now realizing the benefits of
entrepreneurship.
Many people are starting to look into
businesses they can run in addition to their day job including
direct-selling and online ventures. Unlike the old models of direct,
door-to-door sales, the modern "party-plan" sale capitalizes on
networking events and potlucks to pitch goods and services. Formerly,
direct selling was an "on-the-side" business to supplement income. Now,
people are looking to extract the highest income possible from such
ventures.
Although direct selling allows a certain amount of
independence, it takes lots of work to extract the maximum income from
these pushcart businesses. Many vendors only make a small percentage
from the profit they incur from parties or networking events.
Independent business owners can kiss the idea of a "get-rich-quick"
scheme goodbye.
Direct selling is a low-risk way to
discovery whether someone will enjoy the entrepreneurial lifestyle or
not. These small sales jobs can enlighten a potential full-blown
entrepreneur of the everyday problems they may confront should they
undertake a larger business venture.
In addition to learning
about business ownership, direct sales connects the recently-unemployed
to the community. Sitting at home sending out applications can be both
depressing and tedious. Staying connected with the community and
potential employers may yield a lead on a job or other business
venture. Since direct selling allows entrepreneurs to show-off their
communication skills and business-savvy, it is, perhaps, the perfect
"live" résumé. If you decide the entrepreneurial life is something you'd
like to try, contact our office for more information about starting
your own business. Call or email us today.
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