Truth-telling bloggers be warned:

Tilted

Tilted

..
You may still be held civilly liable for the consequences of your (truthful) posts, if your intent was to get someone fired - at least, if this Minnesota court gets say on the matter. I would think this verdict will be overturned on appeal (assuming the First Amendment issue has been preserved).

Jury: Blogger Johnny Northside must pay $60,000 to fired community leader | StarTribune.com

Though blogger John (Johnny Northside) Hoff told the truth when he linked ex-community leader Jerry Moore to a high-profile mortgage fraud, the scathing blog post that got Moore fired justifies $60,000 in damages, a Hennepin County jury decided Friday.

The jury awarded Moore $35,000 for lost wages and $25,000 for emotional distress. The civil verdict culminated a nearly two-year legal scuffle between John Hoff, whose blog, The Adventures of Johnny Northside, has 300 to 500 readers daily, and Moore, former director of the Jordan Area Community Council.

Moore was fired by the University of Minnesota in June 2009, the day after Hoff's post.
Click to expand...
 
O

ONE

New Member
Tilted said:
You may still be held civilly liable for the consequences of your (truthful) posts, if your intent was to get someone fired - at least, if this Minnesota court gets say on the matter. I would think this verdict will be overturned on appeal (assuming the First Amendment issue has been preserved).

Jury: Blogger Johnny Northside must pay $60,000 to fired community leader | StarTribune.com
Click to expand...

Very interesting article -- thanks for posting.

Of note: "Attack the issues, not individuals."
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
ONE said:
Of note: "Attack the issues, not individuals."
Click to expand...

This individual committed a crime, which was the point of the blog post.

So some freakjobs can protest and disrupt funerals, and that is protected as "free speech". Yet a blogger cannot out a criminal, because that is libel.

Curiouser and curiouser....
 
Tilted

Tilted

..
vraiblonde said:
This individual committed a crime, which was the point of the blog post.

So some freakjobs can protest and disrupt funerals, and that is protected as "free speech". Yet a blogger cannot out a criminal, because that is libel.

Curiouser and curiouser....
Click to expand...

The claim here was actually of tortious interference. Truth is a pretty ironclad defense to libel claims. :smile:

But, again, I think this ruling has to get overturned.
 
Tilted

Tilted

..
vraiblonde said:
It would have been fun to watch a lawyer try to explain tortious interference to a jury. :sigh:
Click to expand...

True that. The subtext (that a plaintiff lawyer might hope a jury infers) would be something like this:

Yeah, I know, this all sounds like a bunch of BS - but, if you decide you like my client more than the defendant over there, you can use this as an excuse to find in favor of my client even though, you know, you probably shouldn't because, after all, all the defendant really did was tell the truth.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
Tilted said:
Yeah, I know, this all sounds like a bunch of BS - but, if you decide you like my client more than the defendant over there, you can use this as an excuse to find in favor of my client even though, you know, you probably shouldn't because, after all, all the defendant really did was tell the truth.
Click to expand...

And...you know...it's got electrolytes....
 
B

BernieP

Resident PIA
Tilted said:
True that. The subtext (that a plaintiff lawyer might hope a jury infers) would be something like this:

Yeah, I know, this all sounds like a bunch of BS - but, if you decide you like my client more than the defendant over there, you can use this as an excuse to find in favor of my client even though, you know, you probably shouldn't because, after all, all the defendant really did was tell the truth.
Click to expand...

You initial post caused me to do a search to see why the jury might do what it did. I was looking for images, wondering if there was a "race" card at play. If for example Mr. Moore was of one race and the jury was composed of those of the same race. Then again, the liable trial my not have shown that Mr. Moore was guilty, the or the lawyer was convincing enough to have the jury believe that Mr. Moore was innocent and unjustly portrayed in the blog.
Fact is it was a civil trial and the rules are not the same as a criminal trial.
 
migtig

migtig

aka Mrs. Giant
migtig said:
Does this mean I should stop posting recipes and saying they are yummy? :confused:
Click to expand...

Hello? Is this thing on? I'm actually being serious. After all, aren't almost all comments on blogs subjective? I mean, if I was to say my SIL is the best ever...could I get sued by someone who thinks their SIL is? If I was to say, doing x, y and z is easy and someone found it difficult, could I get sued?
 
Clem_Shady

Clem_Shady

New Member
Toxick said:
Yes.
Click to expand...

You know I'm the really paranoid type and I think Tilted started this thread about me, but if it does in fact come true, I'll be a good citizen and just sit there at the Defendant's table eating my meds each day throughout the trial.

The judge will probably say something like in the Pink Floyd, The Wall movie such as "just nod if you can hear me." And I will.

They will let you bring your meds to court, won't they?

:jameo:
 
Lexib_

Lexib_

Blah.. Blah...Blah
Clem_Shady said:
You know I'm the really paranoid type and I think Tilted started this thread about me, but if it does in fact come true, I'll be a good citizen and just sit there at the Defendant's table eating my meds each day throughout the trial.

The judge will probably say something like in the Pink Floyd, The Wall movie such as "just nod if you can hear me." And I will.

They will let you bring your meds to court, won't they?

:jameo:
Click to expand...

What's really funny is what you post online probably be used in a court of law against you.. So there went your insanity defense. :popcorn:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top