Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    1/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 1/8

    Couple win $14million after un-masking

    anonymous internet trolls who labeled themsexual deviants

    Ruling could have effect on social networking sites such as TwitterInternet forum forced to give up IP addresses to identify those who had postedabuse

    By Daily Mail Reporter

    Published: 19:40 GMT, 24 April 2012 | Updated: 21:23 GMT, 24 April 2012

    A Texan couple who were anonymously abused on an internet forum have won $13.8 million in damagesfor defamation - In what could be a landmark ruling for freedom of speech online.

    Mark and Rhonda Lesher were awarded the sum by the District Court of Tarrant County, after being calledsexual deviants, molesters and drug pushers on Topix.com boards created to discuss the couple's sexualassault arrest and trial in 2008.

    The couple were cleared of all charges against them in January 2009 and subsequently the couple filedtheir civil lawsuit against the anonymous posters in February 2009.

    +5

    Mark and Rhonda Lesher of Clarksville, Texas were awarded $13.8 million dollars by the District Court of Tarrant County

    after be ing anonymously abused on the online forum Topix

    Upon doing so a Texan judge ordered Topix to turn over all identifying information about the anonymousposters, including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

    These unique numbers assigned to personal computers alerted authorities to businesses owned by thehusband of the woman who accused the couple of sexual assault in 2008.

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporterhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/
  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    2/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 2/8

    'This vindicates us,' said Mark Lesher, reported the Texarkana Gazette .

    'This is vindication for all the scurrilous, vile, defamatory statements that caused us to be indicted, to betried, that caused us to move out of town and my wife to lose her business.'

    +5

    The Clarksville, Texas couple w ere aw arded the money after the District judge s aid that their reputation and livelihoods

    had suffered from the anonymous abuse online

    The Lesher's lawsuit investigation led to six parties being named as defendants in an amended petition,according to ABC News.

    They were Shannon Coyel, the couple's accuser from the original criminal trial in 2008, her husband

    Gerald Coyel and his brother James Coyel.

    In addition, the suit also named the business Apache Truck & Van Parts in Kennedale, Texas and twoemployees there Charlie and Pat Doescher.

    Finding in the Lesher's favour the court has ordered Jerry Coyel to pay Mark Lesher $5.1 million for mentalanguish and loss of his reputation.

    http://abcnews.go.com/Business/jury-awards-13-million-texas-defamation-suit-anonymous/story?id=16194071#.T5b1F6p2P48http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2012/04/21/this-is-vindication-380280.php
  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    3/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 3/8

    +5

    Mark and Rhonda Lesher on the s teps of Collin County Courthouse in McKinney, Texas, shortly after their acquittal of

    sexual assault charges Jan. 16, 2009

    It also ordered Shannon Coyel and Charlie Doesher to pay $1.7 million to Mr Lesher, according to the jury.

    Furthermore, Jerry Coyel was ordered to pay Rhonda Lesher $3.169 million for mental anguish, loss of herreputation and the loss of her beauty salon business in Clarksville.

    Also, it compelled Shannon Coyel and Charlie Doesher to pay Mrs Lesher $1.056 million each.

    Neither the Coyels or the Doeshers could be reached for a comment.

    The jury in the defamation lawsuit heard that since the ultimately unfounded rape allegations were heard in2008, a total of 25,000 comments on 70 threads on Topix message boards were posted onto the Internet.

  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    4/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 4/8

    +5

    Tarrant County Courthouse: 25,000 comments on 70 different threads on Topix wer e trawled through to identify the

    common IP addresse s w ere the m ajority of the defamatory comments originated

    'If the award is upheld, then people will think twice about what they say,' said Ryan Calo, a privacy law tutorat Stanford Law School.

    'Defamation is one area of law in which a jury or court have to figure out how much damage has beendone.

    'It's not a car accident where you can calculate medical bills and how much work was lost after an injury.There's something more ephemeral in a reputation.'

    Calling into question the effect of this ruling on free speech, Calo acknowledged the growth of socialnetworking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

    Apache Truck & Van Parts in Kennedale, Texas, whe re two the identified defendants, Charlie and Pat Doescher w orke d

  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    5/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 5/8

    'Everyone knows people say crazy things on the Internet, especially when they do it anonymously.'

    When the Lesher's filed their 365-page lawsuit three years ago, they were accused of murder, pedophiliaand drug taking.

    Even though they had been exonerated of all charged against them in January, they still had to leave theirhomes and businesses as a direct result of the abuse online.

    Naming the 179 pseudonyms used to post what they believed constituted defamatory messages, the

    Lesher's served Topix with a subpoena to obtain the IP adressess.

    Topix responded that the request was too much but a judge in California, where Topix is headquarteredruled that they had to release any identifying information related to the suit.

    +5

    District Court of Tarrant County: After his victory in his defamation lawsuit Mark Lesher said 'You can't post anonymous

    lies on the Internet w ithout suffering the consequences.'

    At the same time he granted Topix a protective order on their information and lawyers and Topix narrowedthe search for targets.

    They discovered that 70 percent of the postings on Topix came from only a narrow number of IPaddresses.

  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    6/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 6/8

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Going forward with the investigation they discovered that the pseudonym 'ilbedipt' was registered toApache Truck & Van Parts.

    'Once they got it down to a small number of people who were vociferous, I'm not surprised they were ableto get a libel judgment,' said Chris Tolles, CEO of Topix to ABC News.

    As well as facing financial ruin as a result of their actions, the Coyels are facing a malicious prosecutionsuit for conspiring to convict the Leshers of a false crime.

    The trial by jury is expected in August.

    Read more:

    'Anonymous' Posters to Pay $13M in Suit

    Comments (10)

    Share what you think

    NewestOldestBest ratedWorst rated

    View all

    ann,cardiff wales, 2 years ago

    but what happens if the *baddies * dont have the mil lions to pay the comp? do they go to jail?

    663

    Josh,UK, 2 years ago

    Yes, you may have freedom of speech, but this is not about FOS, this is about mental abuse, just like real life, you can sayanything you like, but you can not go around accusing and abus ing eople, I hope this case will s et the records s traight forthose scums who think they can hide behind an IP address and run riot with other peoples l ives, jus t think of of those younggirls who killed thems elf for the same abuses, if these girls were your family members, you wont be so nice to defend thesescums now would you ? Freedom of Speech is our basic human rights, but there are limits to how far you can cross thatline.

    1498

    Alan,Frankfurt -Germany, 2 years ago

    @- Roger C., Gary, IN, 24/04/2012 20:26----- Are you for real? So you would be happy for people to accuse you of rape orother crimes and then abuse you online? Thought not! Please engage your brain and think through the consequences ofyour ideas before commenting.

    1174

    SWE,Dublin, Ireland, 2 years ago

    Absolutely delighted to hear this . The casual cruelty of anonymous commentators on the internet degrades us all. May thisbe the beginning of us all being held responsible for every word we write.

    1689

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5861101/SWE/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/4720401/Alan/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/4105423/Josh/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/6054385/ann/profile.htmlhttp://abcnews.go.com/Business/jury-awards-13-million-texas-defamation-suit-anonymous/story?id=16194071#.T5b1F6p2P48
  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    7/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants.html 7/8

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Click to rate

    Kate,Key West, Florida, 2 years ago

    to Roger C. I think 25 THOUSAND comments on 70 boards is s lightly more substantial than just a few comments. Thesepeople had also been completely vindicated by the courts on ALL charges levied against them. So it WAS without questionboth slanderous and libelous. Frankly, I think it is about time that people were held accountable for nasty, hurtful and untruethings posted 'anonymously'.

    11

    88

    Jamie,usa, 2 years ago

    This is really interesting. I think people should watch what they say about others. Now if they can get money from theanonymous people is another thing... there might not be any money there to get.

    1343

    mdinaz,Sierra Vista, AZ, 2 years ago

    I'm glad to hear of the judgment. Too many people for too long have hidden behind computers with slanderous/libelous,life-destroying statements. I hope those who are relentlessly bullied or harassed online can use this suit as a precedent.

    1471

    KC,USA, 2 years ago

    This has nothing to do with free speech. This is about some people and their friends who falsely accused this couple of themos t vile things and then they went on a website and posted almos t 200 completely false and defamitory things aboutthem. Your headline makes it seem like they were just average people commenting or telling their opinion. Nothing and Imean nothing could be further from the truth

    1074

    Roger C.,Gary, IN, 2 years ago

    Absolutely ridiculous . This country is going down the hole. I think it's utterly ridiculous that someone can s ue you for

    comments on a mess age board. Many of these slander and libel cases are basically true, but because of the way the courtworks, people can be sued. So much for Democracy. What a bunch of garbage.

    27848

    John,Wales, 2 years ago

    Lets hope the same thing happens in the UK to stop these scum.

    16137

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/4669682/John/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/4669682/John/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5459184/Roger-C./profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5523929/KC/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5656556/mdinaz/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5923681/Jamie/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/5923681/Jamie/profile.htmlhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/registration/4438289/Kate/profile.html
  • 8/12/2019 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants _ Mail Online

    8/8

    15/6/2014 Couple wins $14million after un-masking anonymous internet trolls who labeled them sexual deviants | Mail Online

    http://www dailymail co uk/news/article-2134613/Couple-wins-14million-masking-anonymous-internet-trolls-labeled-sexual-deviants html 8/8

    The views express ed in the contents above are those of our us ers and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

    Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now

    SHARE PICTURE

    Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd

    Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group

    Associated Newspapers Ltd

    http://www.and.co.uk/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/stats