The town that attacked Civil Rights is now going after the First Amendment (blogger)

[Horse with no Name]

First there was this...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x454313
And now there is this...
A little history--the hospital has been bought and sold several times in just a few years and went from a perfect public reputation to one that has a horrible reputation.
The hospital has recently cut staff...screwed over managers...and betrayed the public trust.
A few months ago, a blog appeared that basically bared the bones of the hospital and WHERE those bones were buried.
The hospital has actively sought to find out who the blogger is but was unable to do so.
Now the hospital is claiming that the blogger violated HIPAA regulations. There have NEVER been any names released on this blog and the blog was never limited to hospital employees. Quite a few members of the community share stories about family member experiences. Some sign their names, some don't.
So the hospital files suit against the blogger and without any other evidence than their words...a Judge orders the cable company to release the name of the blogger.:wtf:
http://theparisnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=682838f39bee1784
>>>snip
Essent Healthcare, parent company of Paris Regional Medical Center has filed a lawsuit in Lamar County’s 62nd District Court against unknown “bloggers,” contending a blog — http://the-paris-site.blogspot.com — has defamed the hospital and that bloggers are breaking the law in releasing patient confidential information.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, asks the court to order SuddenLink Communications Inc., a local cable Internet provider, to disclose the identity and mailing address of the bloggers.

It also asks for damages in an amount sufficient to compensate the hospital for its injuries and losses resulting from the defamation and business disparagement by the bloggers, and punitive damages for the “willful, malicious and reckless attacks” on the hospital’s reputation, goodwill and business opportunities.

Shortly after receiving the lawsuit Tuesday, Presiding Judge Scott McDowell of 62nd District Court issued an order granting plaintiff’s motion to disclosure information, ordering SuddenLink to disclose the identity and any known mailing address of its Internet services subscriber.

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