The ongoing legal saga surrounding Hubbard Inn and a customer's viral TikTok claims has reached a new juncture with a Cook County circuit court judge's decision last Tuesday. The judge has denied a motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by Hubbard Inn against Julia Reel, who alleged in a TikTok video that she was mishandled by the bar's security staff, this according to Chicago Eater. Reel's claim, which was detailed in a video in which she stated she was "dragged out of the bathroom" and "sent flying down a staircase," has been a subject of controversy since it was posted in March and shared over 100,000 times.
In response, Hubbard Inn defended its reputation by releasing a counter-video that presented security footage, which appeared to show Reel and her friend being escorted down a staircase by a bouncer, Reel having accused the bouncer in her video, which has since been taken down, of shoving her while providing a narrative of the events that severely impacted the business's reputation and led to their decision to file a lawsuit as reported by NBC Chicago.
The lawsuit alleges that Reel's social media post led to a decline in business for Hubbard Inn, including over $30,000 in canceled bookings and negative publicity; furthermore, according to documentation, Reel subsequently switched her legal representation from Corboy & Demetrio to a team that includes Forde & O'Meara, with police reports filed by Reel detailing an alleged head injury sustained during the incident going unarrested, with the Hubbard Inn stating that police have neglected any follow-ups.
According to a statement obtained by NBC Chicago, Reel's current legal team from Corboy & Demetrio insist the public should withhold judgement pending the presentation of all evidence in court, even though the firm has not made any additional comments on the ongoing litigation, the social media fallout surrounding the event has prompted both sides to dig in, with Hubbard Inn's legal pursuit charging ahead to a scheduled court date of 9 a.m. on May 23.
While the court proceedings are set to continue into the coming months, Hubbard Inn's legal actions send a strong signal regarding the stakes of social media allegations and the readiness of businesses to challenge claims they see as damaging to their reputation, with the aftermath of the viral TikTok post continuing to unravel both online and in the court of law.
