When 150 homeowners in Brevard County, Florida, got together to bitch about the shoddy construction of their houses, they thought they weren’t doing anything every other homeowner in the free world doesn’t do. But two days after the meeting, one of the buyers was sued for libel and breach of contract by Mercedes Homes, the builders of the problematic abodes, while others were sent letters threatening the same if they didn’t shut up.

It may have seemed absurd to Jay Ann Contardi to be sued for talking to neighbours about the water that poured into her home every time it rained, but buried in the fine print of the Mercedes Homes purchase agreement is a clause forbidding any sort of criticism against the company, its employees, workmanship or materials.

Company lawyers insist the clause is just to prevent people from “damaging the company’s reputation.” Others see it as an infringement on that freedom of speech thing the U.S. constitution goes on about and are exploring their own legal options.

» Scott Saxon