Another week, another post and another blogger is being sued by the head of a corporate company. The president of Steelback Brewery, Frank D’Angelo has launched a $2 million lawsuit (in Canadian bills) after he claims a blogger posted false statements about him on his site.
(Fort Francis Times Online) In his statement of claim, D’Angelo argues that Sager’s comments—which described D’Angelo as a “huckster” and a “two-bit shyster”—are derogatory in that they paint a picture of him as a “peddler,” a “con man,” and an “irritant.”
The claim also says Sager called D’Angelo a “professional nuisance” and described his interest in acquiring the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins franchise as a “charade.”
Sager, who was shocked at the lawsuit, was hoping to settle this issue out of court. Unfortunately it looks as if he may have to prepare to defend his comments in front of the “robed masters in black.”
(Out Of Left Field) Since it’s now on the public record, I have to say my position is any libel issues pertaining to Out of Left Field and Frank D’Angelo were adequately addressed several weeks ago. It’s regrettable it’s come to this point, but the choice is to fight for what’s right, namely the right to free speech as it relates to the written word on the web. I’m confident that there’s a way reasonable people can work this out, and I am a reasonable person.
If anyone is interested in offering legal advice, help or good old-fashioned moral support, you know where to find me.
Whoever came up with the phrase, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words may never hurt me” may be wanting to rephrase that sentence, as court cases (especially lawyers) can often hurt one in the wallet.
Since no official Blog ACLU exists online, Sager may want to consider putting up a “tip jar” in order to help offset his legal expenses, or (even better) find a good lawyer who will defend him for free.
Are there any legal bloggers (or blawgers as they are called) willing to look into this case?
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