The former owner of a Brown County hotel which received attention for its online review policy is asking the Indiana Attorney General to dismiss the case. “The Brown County Democrat” is reporting local attorney and former Abbey Inn owner Andy Szaklay filed the motion Wednesday in Brown Circuit Court.

He says that the Attorney General doesn’t have the authority to request relief from the court for several reasons, and alleges that state is restricting the inn’s own right to free speech by asking for court action.

Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill had asked for injunctive relief and damages in his case, alleging that the inn violated Indiana’s Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. Katrina Arthur of Greene County told the Attorney General’s office that she arrived at the inn in March 2016 to find the room unkempt, with water pressure and air conditioner problems and smelling like sewage.

Arthur said she later received an email from the hotel asking her to post a review, and she did.

She told the Attorney General’s office that she took the post down upon receiving a threat of legal action from Szakaly, and that her credit card was charged an extra $350 in April.

The Indiana Attorney General’s office alleged that the Abbey Inn’s policy restricting negative online reviews was “unfair, abusive, and deceptive.”

According to the report, Szakaly says that since Arthur signed an acknowledgement and agreement to the inn’s policies. He also attacked the credibility of Arthur, saying the woman “has trouble telling the truth and paying her bills.”

For the entire story, visit bcdemocrat.com.