Kleargear

Kleargear is an online retailer that specialises in nerd apparel, geek toys, gadgets and office toys. It was founded in 2001. Paris-based Descoteaux Boutiques owns them.
Controversy
In November 2013, the company sent a bill to Jen Palmer of Layton, Utah for $3,500 following her negative review online on Ripoff Report, based on an anti-disparagement clause of their site's terms and conditions. When Palmer and her husband John refused to pay, Kleargear reported the fine for collection, which dragged down their credit rating.
The retailer removed the clause in question, but it seemed like the clause only appeared after the negative review. Following an internet backlash, Kleargear closed its Facebook page and protected its Twitter account. News reports called the public backlash an example of the Streisand effect. After controversy over the reinstatement of the anti-disparagement clause in March 2014, Kleargear stated that the clause had never been deleted but only moved.
On November 25, 2013, Public Citizen, representing John and Jen Palmer, sent an open letter demanding that Kleargear pay the Palmers $75,000, remove the taint on their credit rating, and cease and desist from using the non-disparagement clause in the future. Kleargear ignored a December 16, 2013, deadline to respond to the offer, and Public Citizen sued the company in federal court for Fair Credit Reporting Act violations, defamation, and other torts. According to attorney Scott Michelman, numerous attempts to get in touch with Kleargear before the suit were unsuccessful. In March 2014, a federal judge entered a default judgment in favor of the Palmers. Kleargear claimed the default judgment was not valid because notice should have been served to its parent company in France. The Palmers were awarded $306,750 in compensatory and punitive damages on June 25, 2014.

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