Man paid $12,500 in damages after ex-wife's Facebook post
A school teacher has been paid $12,500 in compensation after his ex-wife accused him of domestically abusing her on Facebook.
Estranged wife Robyn Greeuw accused husband Miro Dabrowski of subjecting her to years of abuse in the post from December 2012, reports Fairfax media.
The case, which was heard at West Australian District Court, is one of a growing number of defamation cases from posts on social media.
The court heard that the post remained active on social media for six weeks and witnesses came forward to say they had caused her to change her view of Mr Dabrowski.
The post said "separated from Miro Dabrowski after 18 years of suffering domestic violence and abuse".
Ms Greeuw, from Bunbury, WA, opted not to have legal representation at the trial, and simply defended the case by saying that the post was true.
Judge Michael Bowden ruled in Mr Dabrowski's favour, saying Ms Greeuw had not proved the comments were true during the 10 day trial.
Mr Dabrowski called a teacher he started dating in mid-2012 to act as one of his witnesses during the case.
The court heard that after the pair went on a date that year she logged onto Ms Greeuw’s Facebook account ‘to see what his ex-wife looked like’.
Judge Bowden told the court: ‘She opened Ms Greeuw's Facebook page and saw the disputed post which left her shocked, horrified, confused and upset,' reports Fairfax media.
The woman ‘discontinued the relationship’ for 10 months but the couple resumed dating in October 2013.
Judge Bowden said that Ms Greeuw could not be treated as a credible witness and said he had "no doubt that the post caused Mr Dabrowski personal distress, humiliation and hurt and harm to his reputation and it did cause people to 'look at him twice' and be more reserved about their contact with him".
‘He is an experienced educator and is entitled to public vindication.’
