Better look back on what you've said about someone else

Dogpatch

A Texas judge has ordered an online news site to unveil identifying details about 178 anonymous commenters on the site. The order came after a couple, Mark and Rhonda Lesher, sued the numerous anonymous commenters posting to Topix.com for making what they considered to be "perverted, sick, vile, inhumane accusations" about them.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/02/texas-judge-orders-site-to-identify-anonymous-trolls-flamers.ars

The Leshers were originally thrust into the Texas spotlight in 2008 after being accused of sexually assaulting an unidentified former client of Mark Lesher. That's when thousands of comments began piling up on the community news aggregator Topix to discuss the sexual assault charges. As with most things on the Internet, many Topix users felt free to let loose with nasty comments about the Leshers.

The Leshers were found not guilty of the charges after a criminal trial. That, however, wasn't the end of the 70-some individual threads posted to Topix about them. "It just... basically made us both feel like common criminals," the Leshers told the Dallas Morning News (via TechDirt). "It's like someone had basically raped us of our reputation and our standing in the community over and over and over again."

That's when the Leshers chose to sue a number of Topix's anonymous commenters (but, interestingly, not Topix itself). The law firm representing the couple, Connor & Demond PLLC in Austin, told Computerworld that the lawsuit was limited specifically to the posters whose statements were considered defamatory under Texas law.

Finally-Free

the lawsuit was limited specifically to the posters whose statements were considered defamatory under Texas law.

So what if a person who made a defamatory comment does not live in texas or even in the USA? Should the entire world now tremble in fear of the almighty state of texas and its laws?

This can also set a dangerous precedent. I can see a 20 year long list of cases waiting to appear before the courts for the most frivilous cases.

Maybe I can file lawsuits against everyone who called me a birdbrain or dirty bird.

W

garybuss

I'd just say my hate speech is a part of my religion. Works for one group I happen to know about.

caliber

Randy,

Thanks for posting this warning.. I believe our words do count even if said in a free-for -all setting

It is food for thought.. something to ponder seriously !

Caliber

AK - Jeff

Seems like gentlemenly and ladylike choices in our speech and conduct might be pretty good advice to follow. Even in matters of internet chat rooms.

Jeff

Snoozy

I agree and I for one am very glad to have this information..

I think people get away with way to much on the internet as far as making false accusations and others join in without even researching the facts..

Good for Texas!

Snoozy..

Nathan Natas

I have to say I agree with Gary. If we don't have the right to an opinion, or the right to free speech, we can fall back on our religious rights.

As a person holding multiple ordinations in various churches, it is my opinion and my devoutly held religious belief that Mark and Rhonda Lesher can suck a big green one, and that god commanded me to tell you this.

sammielee24

In Dubai they have passed a law that says any opinion against the country if it is negative, will end with a charge against the person. That was after a number of bloggers etc, began writing about the free fall economy there..foreign workers losing homes, abandoned cars and debtors prison because I guess they don't have bankruptcy laws.

sammieswife.

unclebruce

GaryBuss said:
I'd just say my hate speech is a part of my religion. Works for one group I happen to know about.

geez a religion ain't nuthin' without hate speech.

In a case here recently a bloke was fined over $100,000 in defamation damages over insults on a web forum. In another case a school kid was fined over $20,000 and given a period of 'community service' over bullying text messages sent to his peers. As well as that, before the Pope's recent visit, the state of NSW passed laws that made it an offence to 'offend a christian' (poor little God botherers). No wonder JWO is cleaning up its act lol.

Bubblie

Guess I need to get ready to be sued. Some think I say bad things about them all the time. I don't have time for that. Most of what I say on here is just fluff. Must learn to watch out for those who used to be my friends.

Kit

Better look back on what you've said about someone else

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