Texas couple awarded $13 million in Web defamation case

[Horse with no Name]

Hell to the yeah...this couple who are Democrats were targeted by republican adversaries. Their businesses and reputations were all but destroyed.

http://www.wfaa.com/home/Texas-Couple-Wins-Big-Internet-Defamation-Case-148586955.html

>>>>snip
In 2008, Shannon Coyel accused the Leshers of sexual assault at their East Texas ranch. The next year, a Collin County jury acquitted the Leshers of all charges.

Online, however, the case seemed to never end. Hundreds of comments on the web forum, Topix.com, were made against the Leshers. A steady stream of false attacks filled message boards.

The Leshers filed a lawsuit and got a judge to order Topix to release the Internet addresses of 178 anonymous posters. One of those IP addresses went back to a Fort Worth salvage yard owned by the Coyels.

[Nye Bevan]

1. That's why I thought the "Glenn Beck Raped and Murdered a Girl" stuff was not such a good idea.

Whenever he wants to, Beck can subpoena the IP addresses of anyone who posted that stuff here, and then sue them.

You're not as anonymous as you think.

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I suggested starting a forum that discusses legal blogging issues, but

it went flat.

It's one thing to say that the EFF claims that bloggers are protected by the First Amendment, but it would really be helpful to find a resource forum to discuss cases like this one so we can be sure we're walking the straight and narrow areas where we can exercise our rights without going over the edge.

[bongbong]

6. Use the wingnut strategy

Don't say "X happened", say "Some say X happened".

The right wing & the entire MSM uses this all the time. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for anybody.

[Horse with no Name]

7. I think there is a difference between public figures

and private citizens.

This was done to private citizens.

[lonestarnot]

2. Wow so they can't just make up shit any more?

[Stinky The Clown]

3. This is very real and internet morons who think they're having fun posting real info . . . . .

. . . . about people for no good reason apart from a few yuks can (and in future will, with more frequency) find themselves entertaining official guests who come knocking on their doors. There are security issues and commercial issues. The cops are starting to take this seriously.

$13M is highly unusual. Court orders and sanctions are highly likely, however.

[Horse with no Name]

4. These people paid millions in legal fees

She lost a long-standing business and he is an attorney whose reputation was tarnished.

They completely lost their standing in a community and had to move away.

This particular case is far from over and has more long-reaching consequences.