A dry cleaner in New York City's Upper East Side has filed a defamation suit against a dissatisfied customer who posted flyers complaining of alleged poor customer service.

Consumer Evan Maloney says on his website that he is being sued for $300,000 US for posting a handful of signs that read "Todd Layne Cleaners Sucks and is Overpriced," and being menace to employees and other customers.

Maloney alleged the cleaners provided him with poor service and refused to accept packages on his behalf. He told the New York Post that the sentiment expressed on the posters were within his First Amendment rights. But lawyers for Todd Ofsink — the owner of Todd Layne Cleaners — disagreed, saying Maloney was using the First Amendment as a shield.

In September, the owners of a Washington, D.C., dry-cleaning shop closed their doors after battling a $54-million US lawsuit over a missing pair of pants. The cleaners, Soo Chung and Jin Nam Chung, were cleared in the case filed by Roy Pearson, a local administrative law judge.

Pearson had argued two signs, "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service," were misleading and fraudulent. Pearson is appealing the decision. The Chungs said the emotional strain and loss of revenue forced the closure of their shop, but said they would continue to operate another store they own.