A tiny B&B in the Western Isles has won a landmark victory against global website travel guide TripAdvisor.
The giant firm, worth an estimated £2 billion conceded for the first time that it is subject to Scottish law and can be taken to court on this side of the Atlantic.
Richard Gollin, who runs the Baile na Cille guesthouse in Uig, Lewis is suing TripAdvisor over "false and malicious" criticisms about his business.
At Stornoway Sheriff Court on Thursday TripAdvisor caved in over the legal point after a tenacious fight from guesthouse owner Richard Gollin.
The 64-
Until now TripAdvisor emphatically denied it was subject to UK laws and thus cannot be sued in Britain.
It previously challenged the jurisdiction of the Scottish court claiming the firm is headquartered in Massachusetts in the United States which is outwith the remit of the Scotland’s legal system.
Mr Gollin hired Skye lawyer Duncan Burd to tackle the jurisdiction dispute.
But it was a bittersweet victory for Mr Gollin as Sheriff Colin Scott Mackenzie ruled in TripAdvisor’s favour over transferring the action to a higher court which requires him to hire a lawyer and be exposed to unlimited expenses.
Sheriff Mackenzie said the case which involves contract law was too complicated for the small claims arena.
In a last ditch attempt to get his case heard Mr Gollin is appealing to Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle.
Mr Gollin signalled could not afford to fight the case in the ordinary civil court and would be forced to abandon his dispute.
Hebrides B&B bittersweet landmark victory against TripAdvisor 12/10/12
Richard Gollin (right) discusses the court outcome with lawyer Duncan Burd