Law Professor Sues Blog for $22 Million

An African American law professor has sued Above the Law, a popular legal blog that published a series of posts about Professor Donald Marvin Jones (who it dubbed "The Nutty Professor") following his 2007 arrest on suspicion of soliciting an undercover officer for sex.

The professor claims the blog's posts constituted racism, portrayed him in a false light, invaded his privacy, and infringed the school's copyright on his faculty photo. Jones seeks $22 million in damages.

More on the story here: Law professor sues legal blog for $22m in damages - Legalweek

Chicago Woman Sues Bullies Over Fake Facebook Profile of Her Son

On September 24, 2009, Laura Cook filed a suit on behalf of her son after four other students created a fake profile of the boy -- with his actual cell phone number, photos, and defamatory remarks. The defendants' posts suggested the boy liked to engage in homosexual acts, and they also sent "disturbing, vulgar and sexual comments to a few girls."

At one point, the fake profile had 580 "friends" -- many who knew the boy. Some of the users recognized the profile as a prank, but some believed it really belonged to Cook's son. This kind of humiliation, broadcast to 580 peers, would be pretty traumatic to any kid -- but because this student participates in athletics at state, regional, and national levels, the damage to his reputation is particularly significant.

Cook alleges five claims: defamation per se, defamation per quod, false light, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and injunctive relief.

The nature and extent of publication factors into the damages calculation in defamation actions. Suddenly "580 Facebook friends"-worth of damages probably doesn't seem too funny to these four little bullies anymore.

The story, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times:
Mother sues over defamatory fake Facebook profile of son :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Metro & Tri-State

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