A pastor and his wife brought suit alleging a cyber-bullying “hate campaign” against one of the church attendees who “began a discussion about [the pastor] on an internet forum” and also against one of the pastor’s sons who joined the church attendee in posting unflattering remarks about the pastor. The remarks included statements about child […]
We Have Immunity: It’s For Your Own Good…And Next We’ll Report You To The IRS.
An airline pilot’s employment was to be terminated after he had an outburst during simulator training and did not complete the training. Other employees at the airline discussed two prior episodes involving other disgruntled airline persons who lashed out violently, and the other employees reported the pilot’s name to the Transportation Security Administration [TSA], informing TSA […]
“If You Haven’t Got Anything Nice To Say About Anybody Come Sit Next To Me.” Alice Roosevelt Longworth.
Plaintiff was appointed as a bankruptcy trustee. Defendant published blog posts on several websites “accusing [plaintiff and his financial group] of fraud, corruption, money-laundering, and other illegal activities in connection” with the bankruptcy of a company. According to the opinion, defendant “has a history of making similar allegations and seeking payoffs in exchanged for retraction.” Plaintiffs […]
Suit Based On Contents Of Television Script Is Subject To Anti-SLAPP Statute.
Defendant used the true names of his real estate agents in the early drafts of a television script. The agents sued for defamation and false light invasion of privacy. Defendant moved to strike the complaint under the anti-SLAPP statute but the trial court ruled the claims were not covered by the statute. The Court of Appeal […]
To Every [ Defamation ] Action There Is Always Opposed An Equal Reaction–Isaac Newton.
At the time a lawyer was representing plaintiffs in an underlying action against defendants [the plaintiffs in the present action] for RICO violations [18 U.S.C. § 1961], the lawyer issued a press release captioned “FBI SAID TO BE INVESTIGATING GETFUGU’S CARL FREER,” the defendants his clients were suing. Later, the same lawyer issued the following Tweet: “GetFugu […]
“He’s A Sociopathic Narcissist”… Opinion Or Fact?
Building owners brought a libel action against a former tenant who posted a review of the apartment building on a Website: “Sadly, the Building is (newly) owned and occupied by a sociopathic narcissist—who celebrates making the lives of tenants hell. Of the 16 mostly-long-term tenants who lived in the Building when the new owners moved in, […]
Special Motion To Strike Denied In Defamation Action.
The court appointed a reunification counselor in a custody dispute. The counselor concluded the father was emotionally and psychologically abusing the child by indoctrinating him to believe his mother was evil and never loved him and that the mother had kidnapped the child’s younger brother and was holding him hostage. The court removed the child from […]
When It Comes To Defamation, Bank Needs Thicker Skin.
Former vice-president of a bank published 21 allegedly defamatory statements in the “Rants and Raves” section on Craigslist. One of the postings was: “Being a stockholder of this screwed up Bank, this year there was no dividend paid. The bitch CEO that runs this Bank thinks that the Bank is her [personal] Bank to do with […]
What Happens In A Divorce Proceeding Stays In The Divorce Proceeding.
During a divorce, one spouse allegedly made false statements about the other resulting in a libel action. The appellate court held the statements, whether true or false, whether made with or without malice, fall squarely within the litigation privilege [Civil Code §47]. Holland v. Jones (Cal. App. Second Dist., Div. 1; October 23, 2012) 210 […]
Dead Beat Dad Remark Protected.
In the midst of a contentious paternity and child support dispute, defendant wrote on a Web site that the public should be careful in dealing with plaintiff because he is a criminal and a deadbeat dad, is into illegal activities, and that she wouldn’t let him into her house. Plaintiff brought an action for defamation, […]