Facebook post costs North Carolina woman $500,000

If you've ever written an angry Facebook comment, take note: it could cost you half a million dollars.

North Carolina woman Jacquelyn Hammond was sued for a post she wrote in November 2015. Apparently, Hammond said something controversial about someone she knew: "I didn't get drunk and kill my kid."

Davyne Dial, the woman Hammond was referring to, lost her son decades ago in a gun accident with another little boy -- but it was not related to his death.

Dial sued Hammond for the remark.

"I think people today don't recognize the importance of their words. Just because it is very easy to get your words out there does not mean you should," Charlotte attorney Missy Owen told local news outlet WKYC.

The case settled since truth is a defense for libel, and the statement was not true. "You can get in trouble anytime you make a false statement about someone else that damages their character or reputation," Owen said.

Hammond had to pay $250,000 for actual damages and $250,000 for punitive damages, totaling at a whopping $500,000 for her claim.

Owen said this serves as a cautionary tale. She told WKYC, "Anybody who learns about this case should think twice before angrily posting on their Facebook page about somebody else if what they have to say is not true."