Senate sex blog suit heads toward X-rated trial [AP]

[demdiva]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- When Robert Steinbuch discovered his girlfriend had discussed intimate details about their sex life in her online diary, the Capitol Hill staffer didn't just get mad. He got a lawyer.

Soon, though, the racy tidbits about the sex lives of the two Senate aides faded from the front pages and the gossip pages. Steinbuch accepted a teaching job in Arkansas, leaving Washington and Jessica Cutler's "Washingtonienne" Web log behind.

- snip -

Cutler, a former aide to Sen. Mike DeWine, an Ohio Republican, says she created the blog in 2004 to keep a few friends up to date on her social life. Like a digital version of the sex-themed banter from a "Sex and the City" episode, Cutler described the thrill and tribulations of juggling sexual relationships with six men.

- snip -

When Ana Marie Cox, then the editor of the popular gossip Web site Wonkette.com, discovered and linked to Cutler's blog, the story spun out of control. Cutler was fired and Steinbuch says he was publicly humiliated. He went to court seeking more than $20 million in damages.

Whole story at the link
http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/12/27/sexblog.suit.ap/index.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. republicons and sex -- a neverending tale of debauchery and deception

I pity the poor jaded pathetic deviant republicons, such as Bill Felafel O'Reilly and Rush Viagra Cigar Limbaugh. Pathetic.

[salin]

2. typical republican overreach... "humiliation" = $2,000,000

I thought they were against trial lawyers and citizens' litigious wants.

I think the DeWine aide was classless in posting her blog. But was it illegal? Did she cause direct harm? Did he have no idea that she was juggling multiple dates? Did he willingly participate in the affair? 2,000,000. Geez. Should he be allowed to bring such a suit? Of course. Is he likely to win such a case... who knows. Is he likely to get a cool two mil for "humiliation"? Good luck.

Time to catalogue the GOP folks oversized lawsuits to throw back in the faces when they try to limit citizen's access to courtrooms via "tort reform."

[bluerum]

3. Humiliation = $20,000,000. That one zero makes a big difference. nt

[salin]

4. right you are - that goes from the ridiculous (2 mil - my misread) to the absurd.

poor little me... I need 20 million... i was... humiliated! Humiliated I tell you... Humiliated!

[Eric J in MN]

7. "Should he be allowed to bring such a suit?"

I wouldn't mind if the judge tossed the case before a jury is convened.

Geraldo Rivera wrote a book about his sex life. He wasn't sued.

[Sapere aude]

5. She probably talked about his pecker size and he didn't like the wording.

Yep 20 mil for that

[jcrew2001]

6. wonk

Wonkette is hilarious.

I don't think he has much of a case.

However, it is very annoying and hurtful when friends, etc. post negative things about you on the internet, myspace, etc. I use to have a roomate who constantly made fun of the other roomates on her web journal, she was sort of well known, but I thought she was immature and just ignored her most of the time.

[AZBlue]

8. I read The Washingtonienne (the book). It was disgusting.

Not the sex, but her completely amoral, self-serving, self-centered existence. And her arrogance.