Facebook Post About Bees Costs Minnesota Man $370K

MAPLE LAKE, MN — A Minnesota man was ordered to pay $370,000 over a Facebook post lambasting the bees he purchased from a bee business.

Nancy and Keith Budke of Wheaton, Minnesota, sued and won a libel case against Nick Olsen of Maple Lake.

In the court filing, the couple claimed that Olsen "in an attempt to slander and libel the plaintiffs made allegations on Facebook and other social media that hives had maggots and or American Fould Brood."

According to the suit, Olsen "knew this was untrue as evidenced by his misrepresentation that he had the nucs/bee hives inspected in Minnesota by an expert."

Traverse County Judge Amy Doll sided with the Budkes.

According to the Star Tribune, the damages were decided by a jury, which agreed to award Budke $105,000 for loss in business, $240,000 for damage to reputation, and $25,000 in punitive damages.