Recent Threats Added to the DMLP Database

NOTE: The information and commentary contained in this database entry are based on court filings and other informational sources that may contain unproven allegations made by the parties. The truthfulness and accuracy of such information is likely to be in dispute. Information contained in this entry is current as of the last event mentioned in the "Description" section below; additional proceedings might have taken place in this matter since this event.

Garrett v. The Hook

Date: 12/19/2008
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Settled (total)
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Publication: Website
Thomas Garrett, a Virginia chicken farmer, publicist, and self-proclaimed "Hollywood insider," sued the publisher of The Hook, a weekly newspaper in Charlottesville that also publishes content on its website. The complaint, filed in Virginia state court in...
- 01/29/2009 - 3:15pm - 0 comments

Garrett v. Jaquith

Date: 01/01/2009
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Withdrawn
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Publication: Blog
In January 2009, Thomas Garrett, a Virginia chicken farmer, publicist, and self-proclaimed "Hollywood insider," subpoenaed blogger Waldo Jaquith, who publishes cvillenews.com, a community news blog about Charlottesville, Virginia.  Garrett's lawyer served the subpoena in connection with his...
- 01/29/2009 - 3:15pm - 0 comments

Roe v. McClellan

Date: 07/31/2007
Status: Pending
Disposition: Injunction Issued, Material Removed
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Website
In summer 2007, parents in Santa Clarita, California sought an injunction against Jack McClellan, a self-proclaimed pedophile who maintained websites promoting his belief that "girl-love" is positive and healthy.  According to the MLRC, McClellan's website stated that its purpose was "to...
- 01/28/2009 - 6:47pm - 0 comments

Benitah v. Law

Date: 10/31/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Material Removed
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Forum
In October 2008, David Benitah, a San Francisco-based immigration attorney and business consultant, sued Linda Law and consumer review websites Yelp and TheSqueakyWheel.com for defamation and trade libel in a California state court. The complaint...
- 01/23/2009 - 4:16pm - 0 comments

Internet Solutions v. Garga-Richardson (3rd Lawsuit)

Date: 01/09/2009
Status: Pending
Disposition: n/a
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Florida
Publication: Email
Internet Solutions filed a defamation lawsuit against Archie Garga-Richardson in Florida state court in January 2009.  The complaint alleges that Garga-Richardson sent a defamatory email to four Internet Solutions employees in connection with another Internet Solutions lawsuit against him in...
- 01/22/2009 - 10:09am - 0 comments

Sandra Caron European Spa v. Kerber

Date: 05/10/2006
Status: Pending
Disposition: n/a
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Forum
In May 2006, Sandra Caron European Spa, based in San Mateo, California, sued a former employee and her husband for trade libel over critical reviews about the Spa on Yahoo.com and consumer review website Yelp.com.  According to...
- 01/21/2009 - 7:09pm - 0 comments

Styger v. Johnson

Date: 07/10/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Dismissed (total)
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Forum
In July 2008, Joseph Styger, a San Francisco dentist, sued former patient Deborah Johnson and various John Doe defendants over a critical review that Johnson posted to consumer review website Yelp.com.  According to the Complaint, the review falsely accused...
- 01/20/2009 - 6:59pm - 0 comments

Hobbs v. Pasdar

Date: 11/25/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Dismissed (total), Material Removed
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Arkansas
Publication: Verbal, Website
Terry Hobbs sued Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines and her band mates in Arkansas state court for defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress after Maines published a open letter on the band's website and MySpace...
- 01/20/2009 - 6:05pm - 0 comments

Johnson v. ComplaintsBoard.com

Date: 06/26/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Default Judgment, Dismissed (total), Material Removed
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Publication: Forum
Susan and Robert Johnson, owners of Cozy Kittens Cattery, LLC, sued consumer review site ComplaintsBoard.com, its (alleged) publishers Elizabeth Arden and Michelle Reitenger, and two ComplaintsBoard users who commented on a complaint thread about Susan Johnson and her cat breeding...
- 01/15/2009 - 12:24pm - 0 comments

Nam Tai v. Yahoo! Inc.

Date: 02/01/2001
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Subpoena Enforced
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Forum
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc., a Hong Kong-based electronics company, subpoenaed Yahoo! Inc. in connection with a lawsuit against 51 "John Doe" defendants alleging libel, trade libel, and violations of California's unfair business practices statute.  The lawsuit revolved around negative comments about Nam...
- 01/14/2009 - 11:34am - 0 comments

Nam Tai v. AOL

Date: 03/19/2001
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Subpoena Enforced
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: Virginia
Publication: Forum
Nam Tai Electronics, Inc., a Hong Kong-based electronics company, subpoenaed AOL in connection with a lawsuit against 51 "John Doe" defendants alleging libel, trade libel, and violations of California's unfair business practices statute.  The lawsuit revolved around negative comments about Nam Tai...
- 01/14/2009 - 11:23am - 0 comments

La Societe Metro Cash & Carry France v. Time Warner Cable

Date: 10/01/2003
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Subpoena Enforced
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: Connecticut
Publication: Email
La Societe Metro Cash & Carry France sought a "bill of discovery" in Connecticut state court compelling Time Warner Cable to disclose the identity of an individual who allegedly sent an anonymous email to several of its regional directors accusing the company of deceptive...
- 01/13/2009 - 3:10pm - 0 comments

Enterline v. The Pocono Record

Date: 10/30/2008
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Subpoena Quashed
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Publication: Forum
Brenda Enterline subpoenaed The Pocono Record, a daily newspaper and news website serving northeast Pennsylvania, seeking the identity of individuals who made anonymous forum posts on its website.   In September 2008, Enterline sued the Pocono Medical Center for sexual harassment. ...
- 01/13/2009 - 1:45pm - 0 comments

Wong v. Tai Jing

Date: 12/11/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Dismissed (partial), Withdrawn
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: California
Publication: Forum
Yvonne Wong, a pediatric dentist from Foster City, CA sued Tai Jing and Jia Ma, the parents of a boy she treated, after they allegedly posted a negative review about her on Yelp!, a consumer review website.  Wong also named...
- 01/13/2009 - 11:46am - 0 comments

Cohen v. Google (Blogger)

Date: 01/02/2009
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Material Removed, Subpoena Enforced
Type: Subpoena
Jurisdiction: New York
Publication: Blog
In January 2009, Fashion model Liskula Cohen petitioned a New York state court for "pre-action" discovery from Google Inc. (on behalf of its subsidiary Blogger.com), seeking the identity of the anonymous operator of the Skanks in NYC blog.  The blog...
- 01/06/2009 - 7:10pm - 0 comments

Fox Television WFLD-TV v. Progress Illinois

Date: 11/18/2008
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Material Removed, Material Reinstated
Type: Correspondence
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Publication: Website
On November 18, 2008, Fox Television sent a letter to YouTube demanding the takedown of a video uploaded by Progress Illinois, an organization that "provides online news and commentary on issues important to Illinois working families and the progressive movement...
- 01/06/2009 - 2:42pm - 0 comments

Oxford Round Table, Inc. v. Mahone

Date: 06/25/2007
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Dismissed (total)
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Publication: Email, Forum
Oxford Round Table, Inc. ("ORT"), a Kentucky corporation that conducts educational conferences at various colleges within Oxford University, sued Oxford lecturer Sloan Mahone for defamation and tortious interference in federal court in Kentucky.  ORT claimed that Mahone posted defamatory statements on a...
- 12/29/2008 - 10:48pm - 0 comments

GateHouse Media v. New York Times Company

Date: 12/22/2008
Status: Concluded
Disposition: Settled (total)
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Publication: Website
GateHouse Media, which operates more than 375 newspapers (in New England and elsewhere) and associated websites, filed a lawsuit against the New York Times Company in U.S. District Court in Massachussets, claiming, among other things, that...
- 12/23/2008 - 5:11pm - 0 comments

DiAdamo v. Duggan

Date: 09/29/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: n/a
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Publication: Blog, Broadcast, Website
Thomas Duggan, who who hosts the "Paying Attention!" radio program on WCAP 980AM in Lowell Massachusetts, was sued by William DiAdamo, a local attorney, over statements Duggan made on his radio program and republished on his blog, ...
- 12/22/2008 - 3:09pm - 0 comments

Doe v. TS

Date: 03/27/2008
Status: Pending
Disposition: Subpoena Quashed
Type: Lawsuit
Jurisdiction: Oregon
Publication: Blog, Website
In September 2008, an Oregon state judge ruled that Oregon's media shield law, found at Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 44.510 to 44.540, protected the identity of anonymous commenters who posted allegedly defamatory statements on The Portland Mercury and...
- 12/19/2008 - 5:52pm - 0 comments

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