Free Speech Chilled - [Retired Geezer]

No wonder Ace gets all paranoid when you morons post libelous stuff in the comments.

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."

Good thing Spurwing isn't here to see this.

Legal analysts say the Sept. 19 award by a jury in Broward County, Fla. — first reported Friday by the Daily Business Review — represents the largest such judgment over postings on an Internet blog or message board. Lyrissa Lidsky, a University of Florida law professor who specializes in free-speech issues, calls the award "astonishing."

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."

Tell that to the Koskids.

H/T Slashdot.

Well...! No one chilled Retired Geezer's speech, it seems, as he posted this four times. That's an official Ace of Spades HQ Record.

posted by Ace at 05:47 PM

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