Anna Nicole Smith blogger jailed
p2pnet news view Freedom | P2P:- “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter,” said George Washington.
Freedom of speech is arguably the most important and most fundamental of all rights.
But when you get right down to it, fine words, good intentions and noble sentiments notwithstanding, it’s hard to come by and people who used to think the Net was the one place where we could speak freely without fear are being proven to be terribly wrong.
A Houston, Texas, woman who’s being sued for defamation and conspiracy by the mother of late Playboy model Anna Nicole Smith, spent the weekend in prison.
“Lyndal Harrington, a 53-year-old real estate agent, was jailed for contempt of court Friday by state District Judge Tony Lindsay,” says the Houston Chronicle, going on:
“The judge said Harrington lied about what happened to a computer she says was stolen in a burglary less than a week after the judge ordered the machine be produced to be combed for evidence in a defamation and conspiracy case against Harrington and others.
“Harrington, sitting in bright orange Harris County Jail garb and handcuffs in court Tuesday morning, appeared to be crying when Lindsay released her from jail with orders to hand over the computer by July.”
Her case is, “highly unusual in that a judge used civil laws to place someone, especially a non-lawyer, in jail,” says the story, continuing »»»
But the case is not unusual in that a blogger is one of the people Virgie Arthur, Smith’s mother, sued for defamation.
Groups that watch Internet law say bloggers are increasingly being sued for defamation, copyright infringement and privacy invasion. One blogging group now offers insurance against these lawsuits.
Attorney Neil McCabe represents Arthur and asked that Harrington be jailed.
In the lawsuit, “Arthur also accused another blogger; lawyer Howard K. Stern; Stern’s sister; Dannielynn’s father, Larry Birkhead; TMZ Productions Inc.; TMZ’s Harvey Levin; and others,” says the story, adding:
“Harrington blogged and moderated discussions about Arthur on a Web site called ‘Rose Speaks’ but said she didn’t conspire with anyone.”
Houston Chronicle – Blogger jailed for contempt in Smith case, May 27, 2009
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June 1st, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Her goes the freedom of speach!
Soemone enforce the cosntitution please?
June 1st, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Its going to keep getting worse before enough people realize whats going on in this country. Hopefully its not too late when that finally happens.
June 1st, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Libel laws have become ridiculous. People are now getting sued for simply quoting or linking to someone else’s words. Judges are quick to approve endless ‘discovery’ requests and forced depositions that are akin to a full strip-search of everyone in a person’s family, friends, and co-workers.
Scientology-style strongarm tactics have become mainstream.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:09 pm
“People are now getting sued for simply quoting or linking to someone else’s words.”
Tell me about it. Wayne Crookes vs p2pnet: full decision.
Cheers!
June 1st, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Was the Kazaa lawsuit ever settled?
June 1st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
yeah so what’s happening with that Crooks appeal?
June 1st, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Ok, this is getting nuts. These litigious ANS hang-arounds have gone too far. if these people didn’t want to open themselves up to this sort of commentary, they should not have sought the lime light.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:23 am
Virgie Arthur with her own actions defamed herself,the bloggers only got to together as individuals,and commented,What McCabe is complainig about, was in all the magazines and tabloids before Lyndal commented on it,Vergie is trying to get into CBS and TMZ ,deep pockets through the bloggers,She got left out of Anna,s will,so she is trying to pay for her high priced lawyers on the back of innocent people.At one time she had told Splash magizine to keep her family feud going to make more money,so what is her problem,she is still trying to STEAL Dannielynn from daddy,Now what would a woman who is retired,cannot walk and has a problem remembering due to a aneurism,want with a child ,the answer is she just want to control Dannielynn estate,TOO BAD DANNIELYNN HAS A LOVING FATHER
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
From now on I will blog and maintain my web site using anonymising tool.
If I receive a take down notice I will retaliate by proliferating the corresponding information hundred of time all other the internet.
Good luck to find me you copyright fanatics!