SAN FRANCISCO - The International Art Museum of America (IAMA) in San Francisco wants someone to pay for what it feels is defamation in a Google review.
The museum filed suit in the San Francisco County Superior Court on April 13, but no defendants were identified.
The plaintiff says that the unnamed defendants stated on Google that their museum is a front for money laundering without any factual basis.
In a Google review, someone under the internet username of "Michael B." called IAMA a "front for a massive money laundering scheme."
The reviewer accused the museum owner of eluding the IRS by lowballing his art in online auctions with four-figure prices, then suddenly selling the art at seven-figure prices to undisclosed buyers.
"Michael B." must have liked the IAMA museum at least a little, though, because he rated it two out of five stars.
The defendants are charged with defamation and false light publicity; IAMA is represented by the Syverson Law Firm and requests $2.5 million in general and special damages from the defendants behind the Google review. It also wants punitive damages.