Court no-show ordered to pay $90,000 for Facebook car seat 'scam' post – The Age

A car upholsterer who was sued for defamation over a Facebook post calling a former employee a scammer has been ordered to pay $90,000 plus costs after he didn’t turn up to court.The County Court has awarded aggravated damages and costs to Carrum Downs man Michael Iskander after he took legal action against rival upholsterer David Barcos, owner of automotive seat-cover business BNB Products.In December last year, according to court documents, Barcos uploaded a post to his company Facebook page that started with the words: “Dear Customers and Followers. This is an official Scam Alert From BNB Products PTY LTD.”Car upholsterer Michael Iskander won $90,000 after his former boss called him a scammer online.Credit: Penny StephensIn the post to his 20,000 followers, Barcos cited a customer named “Trev” who he said had hired Iskander for some interior work on his Holden after Barcos had knocked him back because he was booked out.Barcos said “Trev” had paid a deposit to Iskander, who had then blocked him and not returned the money. He also claimed that Iskander was telling people that he had training at BNB Products, where he had worked full-time.Barcos said this was not true and that Iskander had worked
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