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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States
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    7

    Question Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    My question involves criminal law in: Pennsylvania

    A few years ago, I was a patient and did some volunteer work for a chiropractor that was charged and admitted to fraud. He continued acts of fraud even on the eve of going to jail. I filed a complaint with the pa department of state against him for the fraud he was doing. Not sure what happened with the complaint. I learned that recently his fraud continues. To warn others about my experiences with him and provide information, I created a review and blog. In the blog I post his court records, news articles, and facts about preventing fraud.

    He filed a private criminal complaint against me for harassment. Not sure of the section of harassment code he alleges I violated as that s cation of the form was left black. In the complaint, he alleges: posts, rants, essays, etc of false statements and situations of his business. Filing false charges against him with the pa chiropractic board and hippa, continuous posting about the suspension of his license, posting news paper/magazine articles about his arrest and criminal record, and rants against him on Facebook.

    After seeing my posted review, one of his patients checked her insurance statements and learned he is charging for procedures she didn't have done. I directed her complaint to the insurance companies fraud department.

    The statements I post are true. Seems he is doing this verses using his resources to file a defamation civil complaint or further embarrassment. I never communicated directly with him only about him. Never anything threatening or lewd.

    Can he win this? What are some points that he can use to correlate the charge of harassment with what he alleges if any! I can see no connection and feel I will Prevail as my intention is exposing the misdeeds of this chiropractor to prevent others from being victims of his fraud.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    OH10
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    17,019

    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint Filed Against Me for Harassment in Pa

    If you posted facts you can verify, take them to court. That will solve the issue. Ifyou embellished or provide information you cannot prove, you may have a problem.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
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    98,846

    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    What is the status of this complaint? If it has been approved by the district attorney, it's difficult to believe that the space for a charge would still be blank.

    Although it's unclear if in fact this is the statute the complainant is attempting to implicate, the Pennsylvania harassment statute can be read here, 18 Pa.C.S. Sec. 2709.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States
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    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    Apparently, because of the history with this chiropractor, the district magistrate does not want to deal with the case and there is to be a change of venue. They said summary cases don't go to the da for approval. There was to be a hearing January 26th but the chiropractor requested a continuance. It hasn't been re scheduled or sent to another magistrate. It's just been sitting there dormant and they don't say what the status of it is. Maybe it was now sent to the da office. I'm not sure. Im impatient and want this all over with and my anxiety is up since it's just sitting there

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    185

    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    I've been on the Internet for 20 years, and I've seen many situations where a person who was being criticized on the Internet was accusing his critics of harassment. Back in the 1990s, the producer of the TV show "Babylon 5" was online with the viewers of his show. There were a few viewers who were perpetually criticizing him and the show. And the producer was always accusing them of harassment.

    Most likely, this doctor's harassment allegations are full of hot air.

  6. #6
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    Sep 2005
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    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    Quote Quoting Traveltech
    View Post
    Apparently, because of the history with this chiropractor, the district magistrate does not want to deal with the case and there is to be a change of venue. They said summary cases don't go to the da for approval.
    Without knowing the jurisdiction where the matter is pending, it's impossible to point you to local court rules.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Private Criminal Complaint for Harassment Over Online Reviews

    It's just at the district magistrate level

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Quoting John_28
    View Post
    I've been on the Internet for 20 years, and I've seen many situations where a person who was being criticized on the Internet was accusing his critics of harassment. Back in the 1990s, the producer of the TV show "Babylon 5" was online with the viewers of his show. There were a few viewers who were perpetually criticizing him and the show. And the producer was always accusing them of harassment.
    Most likely, this doctor's harassment allegations are full of hot air.
    That's what I figure but it's still a pain to have to deal with. I'm hoping he says the wrong things and ends up with the magistrate assessing some charge against him. Like false reports

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