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Melbourne man ordered to pay more than $1m over defamatory builder video
A Melbourne man, Gurvinderpal Singh, was ordered to pay more than $1 million after a jury found that false claims about a builder in a viral TikTok video were defamatory. The case has prompted a warning that online reviewers should keep criticism factual, as negative posts can lead to costly legal action.
The dispute with Singh Homes involved delays, payments and alleged building defects. In 2024, Singh’s Punjabi-language video attracted about 220,000 views and accused the company and its directors of poor work, including saying the ordeal had left him feeling suicidal. The court awarded the company $673,000, then ordered Singh to pay $105,000 to each of its two directors, plus legal costs and interest; the directors said the posts drove customers away and caused business losses.
In short
- A builder won more than $1 million in damages and costs.
- A jury found the viral TikTok claims were untrue.
- A lawyer urges reviewers to keep criticism truthful and measured.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Warning to Aussies who leave bad Google reviews after man is given a $1million bill after review about his builder backfired”.