This is topic Wow..threats of legal action. Some folks are getting mighty full of themselves in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
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Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 05:16 PM:
Quote:
"In the past, when we have made tough decisions. One of the most difficult is suspending someone’s posting privileges. It is taken very seriously by our staff. Historically, we have kept the decision between PM and the person[s] involved. Some times the people involved went to other boards and tried to cast PM in a bad light. Sometimes we took legal action, but most times we ignored the trashing, and didn’t respond.
This will no longer be the case.
Lately we have seen problems here with disputes between members as well as sponsors. It is at the point now where it is not only bad for the sport as it takes the focus away from hunting and puts it on personal issues between those involved, but bad for Predator Masters as well.
I say this because it sucks our volunteer resources from doing positive things with our organization to settling disputes that should be settled privately.
In the last few months there has been an escalation of disruption on our board and there have there been 2 websites set up lately with the intention of and actively soliciting actions to disrupt and slander Predator Masters and it's staff.
We have repeatedly tried to settle these matters as peacefully as possible, but without much success.
There are many different ideas, opinions and products along with techniques and equipment being used by our sport. Predator Masters welcomes and encourages opinions and debate on these things, in a reasonable manner. It helps the sport grow. The personal attacks on members or sponsors or moderators do not. Everyone is welcome to join Predator Masters at no cost. They should feel welcome to post their pictures and stories and opinions without fear of ridicule or insults. They should also not be subjected to assaults on their reputations.
The sponsors that support this board help pay the bills. No one of them has any control over the direction or policy of this board. They deserve the right to promote their products and services without harassment.
This kind of poor behavior is very bad for the sport and it discourages participation on this board.
We will now be taking a more proactive position on this matter.
In the last few weeks we have permanently suspended posting privileges of 4 members and cancelled two sponsorship contracts with a prorated refund.
We are also looking at legal recourse available to us."
------------------
YOU GOTTA BE SHITTING ME!!!
"Legal recourse"??
Gonna sue people who badmouth the moderators or badmouth the products they push?
So they dumped two sponsors? I'm gonna take a SWAG at this and guess that one of the sponsors was Minaska. Don't know who the other one was.
What a load of horseshit.
I never met Will Craig, but I'm gonna guess that he never intended the board to turn in a reach around party and a business
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Numb er=52898058&an=0&page=0#52898058
[ August 06, 2008, 05:19 PM: Message edited by: MULE ]
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 06, 2008, 06:23 PM:
" there have there been 2 websites set up lately with the intention of and actively soliciting actions to disrupt and slander Predator Masters and it's staff."
Does anyone know who these 2 sites are?
Posted by Cranky Farmer (Member # 3029) on August 06, 2008, 06:59 PM:
Who posted that on PM? They better have deep wallets because lawyers are not cheap.
Posted by yuccabush (Member # 582) on August 06, 2008, 07:29 PM:
Shhhhh. Old toadfrog may sue us all for talking about this.
Posted by Cranky Farmer (Member # 3029) on August 06, 2008, 07:40 PM:
Well it appears that the Minaska banner is gone from their sponsors page.
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/sponsors.php
Who else is missing?
Posted by Steve Craig (Member # 12) on August 06, 2008, 07:49 PM:
What some dont understand, is that an event such as this, will actually help Minaska's business. Free advertising.
Worst thing they could do is kick them off. Minaskas sales will shoot up like crazy cause everyone will be asking why!
Posted by CrossJ (Member # 884) on August 06, 2008, 07:54 PM:
Sure adds alot of validity to past claims of who is pulling the strings over there too. Never did get into the 'brand war' thing, but this is pretty much chicken$hit.
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 08:10 PM:
Steve Craig just nailed it!
I have tried a e caller before. Then I gave up on em. I called coyotes but the reliability issue turned me off.
But lately I've been thinking about giving it another try.
And I was considering giving this Maniska a go. Mainly because I can't see Higgins lying. But I may have went with another brand.
But now..If I buy one its probably gonna be a minaska.
What I DON"T like about this shit is the fact that I feel some of these PM mods pit people against each other.
I have folks I really like that are Foxpro staff. DAA,Curt and PH come to mind.
I'm not gonna knock foxpro but I'm not gonna buy one either
To each his own
Posted by Cranky Farmer (Member # 3029) on August 06, 2008, 08:13 PM:
So who is going to be the brave soul to ask in the electronics section why Minaska is gone as an advertiser?
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 08:14 PM:
Cranky,
The person who wants to be banned
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 08:20 PM:
I'm still curious who was the other advertiser that got the boot??
Posted by CrossJ (Member # 884) on August 06, 2008, 08:26 PM:
I think it was a custom firearms builder. Dan Carey.
Posted by Cranky Farmer (Member # 3029) on August 06, 2008, 08:30 PM:
Leonard, are you the one responsible for feeding information off of the Predator Monsters website to the admin types at Predator Masters?
Posted by George Ackley (Member # 898) on August 06, 2008, 08:39 PM:
I have no problem asking over at PM but I would like to hear from Minaska first .....
where did they go??? and what was the cause for there termination?
just to post that over there will get nothing but trouble and I ant looking for trouble just answers
there are guys close Minaska on here that should ask Minaska then let us and let the customers know what happened to them .
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 08:53 PM:
Cranky
Are you a "monster"?
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 06, 2008, 08:58 PM:
Heath, Of course Leonard will speak for himself, but I ain't going to wait for him to answer the question.
NO!
Plain and simple.
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 06, 2008, 09:05 PM:
Mule, I'm Nimrod, Gary is Godzilla and Leonard is Hellboy. I know who Cranky is and a few others. But one of the Foxpro staffers sent me an email last week and he identified several of the "monsters" that I knew and a couple that I had never heard of. Who the heck is Robert Pugh? Anyway they know more than I do, or Leonard, and maybe even Gary.
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 09:11 PM:
Thanks rich
I have been checking that place out and always wondered who was who.
Maybe I'll sign up and raise a little hell myself ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 06, 2008, 09:11 PM:
It's my opinion they are some of the monsters, and maybe the worst ones.
Posted by George Ackley (Member # 898) on August 06, 2008, 09:12 PM:
I am BIGFOOT,
AND YES THE LADY BIGFEETS LOVE ME
Posted by Scott F. (Member # 1961) on August 06, 2008, 09:16 PM:
I can't speak for Todd at Minaska Outdoors as he knows the exact specifics but I did communicate with him this afternoon concerning this turn of events and know the basic gist of it.
Just as stated by the administrator on PM in the recent post. The insults that originated from 2 other forums, targeting the PM mods and the forum in general, were felt to have a basis in a particular company or 2, which at this point in time is/are no longer allowed to advertise on PM. Questions can be answered pertaining to their products by the companies representatives as normal, but no overt advertising will be permitted. I was told I had to remove any and all MO advertising within my sig line and avatar on PM until further notice.
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 09:18 PM:
George,
Tell me about that bigfoot poon
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 09:20 PM:
Well Rojofroggie talked about not dividing the predator hunting community but managed to do just that,
Posted by George Ackley (Member # 898) on August 06, 2008, 09:24 PM:
thanks Scott,
Mule,
it' a hard life anymore, with the discovery chanal and that crazy blond from monsterquest leaving them estrus chips laying around and running that dam foxro at all hours of the night ,, it getting hard for bigfoot to get his grove on anymore
[ August 06, 2008, 09:24 PM: Message edited by: George Ackley ]
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 09:27 PM:
Them estrus chips are good eating!
Providing you got enough beer and vodka to wash em down
[ August 06, 2008, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: MULE ]
Posted by MULE (Member # 63) on August 06, 2008, 09:34 PM:
GZ is Gary?
Who is Gary?
And why is he messing with a guy who reminds me of my dad??
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 06, 2008, 09:52 PM:
quote:
I am BIGFOOT,
AND YES THE LADY BIGFEETS LOVE ME [Big Grin]
George, Everybody loves you, 'ceptin' maybe frogs....and GGs.... and.. never mind.
Posted by The Bandit (Member # 960) on August 06, 2008, 09:57 PM:
All I'm going to do is post my favorite quote of the day.
quote:
As I said before there is no sponsor that has any more influence with the management of PM than any other.
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 06, 2008, 10:05 PM:
I always liked
"At the end of the day, it's performance that counts."
Posted by Okanagan (Member # 870) on August 06, 2008, 10:58 PM:
Frog writes good spin. Deny the bald faced obvious and accuse the other fellow of doing exactly what you have done. Textbook propaganda. Big risk but works if most people aren't paying attention, and I'd guess that most posters aren't.
The threat of legal action convinces me more than ever that money is motivating this power play.
[ August 06, 2008, 10:59 PM: Message edited by: Okanagan ]
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 07, 2008, 12:13 AM:
I just got home, have not checked PM as to what the hell is going on?
Cranky, why are you asking if I did something? I wouldn't give them assholes the time of day, for the reasons already mentioned and several more that have not. No, I have had no communication with anyone over there, except last week I replied to RanUtah when he sent me a link to the Blob board.
As far as who is who on that board, Higgins knows about all I know? He left out one; Beetlejuice which is Tom Turner. Dan Carey told me who he is, I guessed Higgins and Vic told me who he is. But, I'm not in position to figure out who's who, like I give a shit. Higgins and GZ are the only two I was ever able to figure out on my own? Higgins is about the only one that knows who Nimrod is so that was easy, gary because his fingerprints are all over it.
I do think PM could have a legal recourse and I probably could, as well, but I have never sued anybody and don't care to start now, but there is definately some libel being thrown around over there and those assholes aren't so unknown that they can't be found. Supposedly, Gary is my friend and if so, seems to me that he should do a little housekeeping before it's all documented.
I told him it was a ****** up idea from the beginning and he thinks it's a political force. No, it's a chance for some sick puppies to rant about crummy little imagined slights. I guarantee, I have never said or done anything to warrant the abuse I have been subjected to, on that site. Petty childish ignorant shit that has absolutely no value.
I feel certain that one of the people that have slandered me on that site is also the "so called" rat, and also the one most likely to try and pin it on me. We got a real sick puppy among us, make no mistake.
Good hunting. LB
[ August 07, 2008, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Scott F. (Member # 1961) on August 07, 2008, 05:07 AM:
Question. I don't know law well enough understand this and maybe some of you guys have seen it happen before and know the details.
How can someone threaten litigation for something a forum's membership posts? Are they bringing litigation into the picture to get the information removed? Are they attempting to recoup some financial retribution for things said? Are they trying to prove slander?
I don't understand the goal of litigation. To date, I don't think there have been many legal presidents established on internet message board litigation?
In an atmosphere that can retract, edit, delete users comments art the drop of a hat I don't see how a court of law could establish much.
Posted by Steve Craig (Member # 12) on August 07, 2008, 05:52 AM:
If it is a public forum, no one can do nothing.
It has already been tried on trapping forums.
Failed.
FWIW
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on August 07, 2008, 07:04 AM:
Hard to belive that the simple pursuit of a 30# wild canine can generate all of this emotion. Madness!!!!
Posted by browning204 (Member # 821) on August 07, 2008, 07:12 AM:
I saw redfags post on PM. They know just as well as everyone else that they can't do chit about chit.
As far as MINASKA, did the little foxpro boys have enough of looking bad? They knew MINASKA is threatning business by making better callers.
It is all a big laugh. That site will be gone in a while at this rate!
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on August 07, 2008, 09:18 AM:
You know me, the off topic one...When I was about 7-9 years old, perfectley un-normal little kid, I had a neighbor friend, that whenever we had a disagreement he'd threaten, "I'll sue you!!!" or "I'm gonna sue you!!!" LOL
Now that I'm all growed-up I've had many many perfectly good reasons to sue people but just can't seem to ever be willing to waste my energies and resources fighting with follish people.
Posted by Greenside (Member # 10) on August 07, 2008, 10:25 AM:
quote:
[
Question: What is a SLAPP suit?
Answer: SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or lawsuits aimed at squelching speech and involvement in government. Many states, including California, have anti-SLAPP statutes allowing one who has been targeted by a SLAPP to sue back.
Online, SLAPP suits typically involve a person who has posted anonymous criticisms of a corporation or public figure on the Internet. The target of the criticism then files a lawsuit so they can issue a subpoena to the Web site or Internet Service Provider (ISP) involved and thereby discover the identity of their anonymous critic. Many SLAPPers stop after discovering their critic's identity, using the tactic to intimidate or silence online speakers even though they were engaging in protected expression under the First Amendment.
/QUOTE]
quote:
Question: May someone other than the person who originally made the defamatory statement be legally liable in defamation?
Answer: One who "publishes" a defamatory statement may be liable. However, 47 U.S.C. sec. 230 says that online service providers are not publishers of content posted by their users. Section 230 gives most ISPs and message board hosts the discretion to keep postings or delete them, whichever they prefer, in response to claims by others that a posting is defamatory or libelous. Most ISPs and message board hosts also post terms of service that give them the right to delete or not delete messages as they see fit and such terms have generally been held to be enforceable under law
quote:
Question: Can an ISP or the host of the message board or chat room be held liable for
defamatory of libelous statements made by others on the message board?
Answer: Not in the United States. Under 47 U.S.C. sec. 230(c)(1) (CDA Sec. 230): "No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider." This provision has been uniformly interpreted by the Courts to provide complete protection against defamation or libel claims made against an ISP, message board or chat room where the statements are made by third parties. Note that this immunity does not extend to claims made under intellectual property laws.
quote:
Question: Can an opinion be defamatory?
Answer: No ? but merely labeling a statement as your "opinion" does not make it so. Courts look at whether a reasonable reader or listener could understand the statement as asserting a statement of verifiable fact. (A verifiable fact is one capable of being proven true or false.) This is determined in light of the context of the statement. [QUOTE] A few courts have said that statements made in the context of an Internet bulletin board or chat room are highly likely to be opinions or hyperbole
,
[ August 07, 2008, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: Greenside ]
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on August 07, 2008, 10:27 AM:
"As far as MINASKA, did the little foxpro boys have enough of looking bad? They knew MINASKA is threatning business by making better callers."
--------------------------------
Oh Browning, you are talking before your brain kicks in again. Minaska does in fact make GOOD callers, but no way in hell are they BETTER than FoxPro callers. I have used both, so I know what I am talking about. I go by "Monster" on the other P.M. board by the way. ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 07, 2008, 11:46 AM:
It will be a cold day in hell, when I'm brand loyal blind.
I have had all the E-caller brands worth buying. I'll take a WT any day of the week, then a Minaska. In my "opinion" the rest are just toy's not worth the price.
Do to the fact I'm not brand loyal, I'm not going to be field staff material.
[ August 07, 2008, 11:48 AM: Message edited by: Dan Carey ]
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on August 07, 2008, 12:11 PM:
Hey, you guys missed one. Skeletor is obviously Browning204. Duh!
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 07, 2008, 01:28 PM:
I don't know why Clevenger has jumped to conclusions about this stinkbug? (Me) Apparently our friendship is not able to survive rumor and innuendo? I looked to see if I had his number, and I don't, otherwise, I would have called him by now, to deny any responsibility for being a rat to PM or anybody else. He is welcome to provide it via email and we could discuss his reasons and I could swear to him, on a stack of Bibles that I did nothing, to anyone, and ratted nobody. I'll submit to voice stress if he has it. I didn't even know any of his members? He said a lot of energy has been spent to determine the identity of those assholes, but not by me. I have a very short list of suspects, but am resigned to never knowing and it doesn't matter, is the way I feel about it.
Good hunting. LB
PS it's really too bad, because since now I'm a stinkbug, I don't feel comfortable asking him for the favor I have been wanting to ask for some time....but hey, life goes on?
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on August 07, 2008, 02:39 PM:
"It will be a cold day in hell, when I'm brand loyal blind.
I have had all the E-caller brands worth buying. I'll take a WT any day of the week, then a Minaska. In my "opinion" the rest are just toy's not worth the price."
------------------------
Is THAT an OxyMoron? ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
Posted by Rich (Member # 112) on August 07, 2008, 02:41 PM:
Leonard,
Gary Clevenger is GZ? I thought that he was a Minaska Rep.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 07, 2008, 03:09 PM:
Yeah, WAS is what I heard? How that might have come about, can't say?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by browning204 (Member # 821) on August 07, 2008, 03:13 PM:
It will be a cold day in hell, when I'm brand loyal blind.
I have had all the E-caller brands worth buying. I'll take a WT any day of the week, then a Minaska. In my "opinion" the rest are just toy's not worth the price."
you are a smart man!
Posted by browning204 (Member # 821) on August 07, 2008, 03:16 PM:
Hey, you guys missed one. Skeletor is obviously Browning204. Duh!
Excuse me 3toes!?
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 07, 2008, 03:33 PM:
I'm sure it doesn't matter, browning, since it appears that as soon as one of them is outed, they can trade it in on a different secret identity. What a waste of cyberspace; and that's a tall order since a good portion of cyberspace is a total waste of time.
Crikie, GZ! Sudden thought; is Damien available? Seems to fit you like a glove?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on August 07, 2008, 06:01 PM:
Wow! This has gotten a lot of play since I read Mule's single post last night.
Dirty Rat's. Backstabbers. Shit talkers. Lawsuits. The Land of the Banned! Is Ollie North wrapped up in this somehow?
The first person that correctly guesses my identity on the monster board wins an f-in dollar! And a nice patch! ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
[ August 07, 2008, 06:03 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:12 PM:
Capt. Spaulding
What kind of patch?
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on August 07, 2008, 06:16 PM:
RAT!
EDIT: smiley...
[ August 07, 2008, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: smithers ]
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:17 PM:
What's a Rat Patch?
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on August 07, 2008, 06:20 PM:
I have a Tunnel Rat patch...
Big fan of the Rat's!
Non Gratum Anus Rodentum
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 07, 2008, 06:24 PM:
Speaking of rats, you have to watch that Higgy, he'll rat you out every time.
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:27 PM:
Excuse me!! I win a contest and this is how I'm treated? quote:
The first person that correctly guesses my identity on the monster board wins an f-in dollar! And a nice patch! [Eek!]
I'm sending you my mailing address. I want my f-n dollar and my Rat patch. What's a Rat Patch?
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:29 PM:
Never mind. I don't give a rat's ass either. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 07, 2008, 06:39 PM:
Why aren't you telling me all these identities, Higgins? I can't rat what I don't know? On second thought, I can't even remember what I'm told, so don't bother.
It would be nice if PM exonerated me, when they get a chance?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:52 PM:
I don't think I would bet a rat's ass on that, Leonard.
Posted by RagnCajn (Member # 879) on August 07, 2008, 06:53 PM:
I was trying to stay out of this and my word probably means didly here but, There is no rat. It is what it is. Any one with reading comprehension 3rd grade level can come to the same conclusions.
Leonard is Clean.
Randy Reeves aka RagnCajn @ Predator Masters.com.
Posted by Rich Higgins (Member # 3) on August 07, 2008, 06:59 PM:
Leonard, you just won one Rat's Ass(that would be me).
Randy, thank you for that.
Posted by Dan Carey (Member # 987) on August 07, 2008, 07:01 PM:
Hey Higgins, I have the same problem that LB has, I can't remember what people tell me either. But, I will say a lot of what I hear ain't worth remembering, that don't apply to what you tell me.
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on August 07, 2008, 07:10 PM:
I'll go out and get you a patch.
It says Tunnel Rat on it. I don't have any "special" club patches like some around here.
And I'll have to scrape up that f-in dollar.
That's gonna be the tough part.
Posted by Locohead (Member # 15) on August 07, 2008, 07:25 PM:
figured fer sher you were the WerewolfInLondon guy
Posted by smithers (Member # 646) on August 07, 2008, 08:11 PM:
Good memory Loco!
Posted by 3 Toes (Member # 1327) on August 08, 2008, 03:36 PM:
You might have figured out Smithers, but you aren't going to get mine figured out Higgins! ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on August 08, 2008, 05:09 PM:
Having no interest in rats, patches, or any of the people who've chosen to post at PM, PM2, or any of the other boards, I'd like to comment on the original purpose for this thread.
Over the course of my life, I've often times made the empty threat that I oughtta sue someone, or that I was going to sue someone. But not until recently have I actually put those words into action. (Don't worry , Leonard, you're not listed as a defendant yet. Yet.)
Anyway, this process is not quite as cut and dried as one would expect. In fact, it is quite involved, and it's a simple personal injury suit involving my wife, our car, and another woman driver. Even though we are the aggressors here, I have been surprised at the depth to which Lisa's life has been looked at via a lengthy list of interrogatories posed by the defense counsel during discovery. of course, we ratted out as much as we could on the defendant as we could, too, so paybacks are hell.
anyway, there's a helluva lot more to this than simply making an idle threat and if someone "over there" has the time to invest in the threat for the next year and a half, more power to them, because there's now ay in hell that any civil action brought by them against anyone else for expressing their opinion is going to be resolved in a shorter span of time than that.
Hell, we're two years into this process, with an estimated eighteen months more to go before we shut the door on a settlement, and our situation is virtually cut and dried because the lady hit square on and didn't even bother to leave brake marks. There's little doubt who did what and who is guilty of what. All we're trying to decide is if it was bad enough to warrant a judgment. What these guys are threatening isn't even close to being quantifiable.
My response would be, "Bring it on. Show me actual damages, then we'll talk."
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 08, 2008, 06:01 PM:
So, what are you saying, Lance? That the concept of character assassination is too old fashioned to be actionable? Money must be lost, first?
See, I don't know? Actually, I was served once, as a landlord, in a case about a tenant's dog, but I was dropped from the case after signing 45 documents. Although it is possible to sue anybody anytime, I clearly was not responsible. This case was shown on Judge Alex last year, so I might have made a mistake? The show pays for your room and free food vouchers, plus $150 appearance fee, besides paying for the flight to Houston. That's for the loser. The judgement is paid from an arbitration fund so you really cannot lose, and it isn't even recorded. Ulitmately, I decided it was so frivilous I was loathe to participate.
But, being called a rat and a stinkbug? How would you like that?
Good hunting. LB
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on August 08, 2008, 07:37 PM:
Sticks and stones...
I've been called worse than that, and that's just by my wife and kids. It hurts just thinking what people that don't depend upon me for food and shelter really think.
There's an oft used statement that you can sue anyone for anything, and if you can get half of the jury plus one to see your side of things slightly better than that of your opponent, you win.
But I was also told by my first attorney that in order to win a judgment for defamation, slander, or liable, you have to demonstrate a quantifiable loss resulting from what the defendant stated publicly and be able to prove that the statements made about you are false and that the defendant knew they were false when he or she made them (proves malicious intent to defame). Maybe that's just in Kansas. Don't know.
For example, let's say that you use the web as your bully pulpit and somehow convince everyone online that has an interest in predator calling that such and such at Predator Mongrels (Name changed to protect the innocent.) is a no good SOB and that they should leave that board. You have no proof that so-and-so at Predator Mongrels is what you say he is or that he's committed the heinous atrocities you claim. He or she loses all their sponsors, advertisers and members, as well as their investment in maintaining that board. He decides to file a civil action against you for liable and defamation of character. Chances are, you'd be paying damages because what you said was false, you had no proof otherwise, and your actions caused their "business interest" to collapse.
How accurate is that? Hell if I know, but it's basically what my lawyer told me involving a slew of defamatory remarks made against me by a guy hereabouts. Did I sue? Nope. When I looked at things objectively, I realized that the people he made the remarks to supported me, and always had, so he just ended up looking petty all the way around. That, and I realized that all that would come of it was that I'd get the last word and the lawyer would have most of my money.
And that brings up another question as to how legitimate this "threat" might be. Just how much money is someone willing to pony up just to have the last word?
Like Loco said, sounds like a bunch of kids. If you're gonna threaten to sue, you'd better have the name of your attorney ready to give out. Otherwise, you ain't serious enough.
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on August 08, 2008, 07:54 PM:
Oh, you mean like this? Posting an unflattering pic of Beetlejuice? And calling him a dickhead?
[ August 08, 2008, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: Leonard ]
Posted by Cdog911 (Member # 7) on August 08, 2008, 08:12 PM:
Crap, I thought that was me. Then I saw the back hair. Nope. Not me.
Posted by Ken (Member # 3065) on August 09, 2008, 10:29 AM:
Cdog911, your analogy on the defamation issue is pretty accurate and pretty much the standard for many states, it is here in Commiefornia..
Of course anyone can find an attorney who will gladly accept your money and tell you what you wish to hear..
Just ask those poor souls who got divorced in this state.. ![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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