Jury awards $11.3M over defamatory Internet posts

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A Florida woman has been awarded $11.3 million in a defamation lawsuit against a Louisiana woman who posted messages on the Internet accusing her of being a "crook," a "con artist" and a "fraud."

[...]

Lyrissa Lidsky, a University of Florida law professor who specializes in free-speech issues, calls the award "astonishing."

Lidsky says the case could represent a coming trend in court fights over online messages because the woman who won the damage award, Sue Scheff of Weston, Fla., pursued the case even though she knew the defendant, Carey Bock of Mandeville, La., has no hope of paying such an award.

[...]

Scheff says she wanted to make a point to those who unfairly criticize others on the Internet. "I'm sure (Bock) doesn't have $1 million, let alone $11 million, but the message is strong and clear," Scheff says. "People are using the Internet to destroy people they don't like, and you can't do that."

The dispute between the two women arose after Bock asked Scheff for help in withdrawing Bock's twin sons from a boarding school in Costa Rica. Bock had disagreed with her ex-husband over how to deal with the boys' behavior problems. Against Bock's wishes, he had sent the boys to the boarding school.

Scheff, who operates a referral service called Parents Universal Resource Experts, says she referred Bock to a consultant who helped Bock retrieve her sons. Afterward, Bock became critical of Scheff and posted negative messages about her on the Internet site Fornits.com, where parents with children in boarding schools for troubled teens confer with one another.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-1...tion-case_x.htm

[almaty 19]

damn, i need to watch what i type here...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

damn, i need to watch what i type here...

everyone you've ever called a chopfukc... can sue you now... how many million you got?

[I'm Gone 60]

everyone you've ever called a chopfukc... can sue you now... how many million you got?

Yeah, but you have to prove it's not true. LOL

[Heracles 417]

Another reason foreigners laugh at the US because of it's liberal legal system..

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I want to publicly apologize for any negative remarks that may be derived or interpreted from any of my prior and future posts. We can settle our differences without the lawyers. So please don’t sue me! LOL!!!

[pedroh 21]

Another reason foreigners laugh at the US because of it's liberal legal system..

but, as the article said.. libel doesn't exist because it's online?

of course there's a difference between 'oh you smell like poop and u're ugly' and a difamation where your professional credibility is doubted or a government official that is corrupt..

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... a difamation where your professional credibility is doubted ...

pedroh,

you are the worst radio shack salesman ever. any product you recommend is #######.

(something like that?)

[pedroh 21]

... a difamation where your professional credibility is doubted ...

pedroh,

you are the worst radio shack salesman ever. any product you recommend is #######.

(something like that?)

na not really cuz that still is subjective lol.. although with the sale records it can be proved wether im a good salesman or not..

i'd think stuff like 'he steals money from the register or from the back room'.. something like that

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pedroh,

You purposely sell people bad products because you've been bribed by the manufacturer to push their ####### on an unsuspecting public.

(that better?)

[pedroh 21]

pedroh,

You purposely sell people bad products because you've been bribed by the manufacturer to push their ####### on an unsuspecting public.

(that better?)

i guess

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

ok. so whens my court date

[pedroh 21]

lawl..

im very very, very cheap.. I wouldn't pay for a lawyer.. unless i found one of those who say 'if u dont win u dont pay us'...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Another reason foreigners laugh at the US because of it's liberal legal system..

It was a trial by jury, knucklehead... (sue me)

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

lawl..

im very very, very cheap.. I wouldn't pay for a lawyer.. unless i found one of those who say 'if u dont win u dont pay us'...

I hear those lawyers can take away over 50% of what you win!