[builtinbuffalo]

Google no longer applies a demotion penalty to a site with spammy links, especially those from negative seo campaigns, but rather devalues the links. This is since the "real time" Penguin update at the end of September. You can still use disavow, but it's likely a waste of time...and if you don't know what you're doing could make things worse.

[walshemj]

I haven't head that as far as I know you can still get a manual penalty for a number of issues.

I have had to help clean up one or two sites.

[walshemj]

I wonder if the down voters have ever had clear up a manual penalty.

[builtinbuffalo]

Google said so themselves late last year.