Columnist Threatens to Sue Blogger

floppy ears writes "Pseudonymous blogger Atrios has been threatened with a subpoena and lawsuit for defamation. Apparently Atrios used a headline 'Diary of a Stalker' in reference to Donald Luskin. In response to the posting, several anonymous commentators made some allegedly libelous statements about Luskin, and now Luskin has hired an attorney and started making threats and demands. The funniest thing is that Luskin has previously referred to himself as a stalker in his own headline: 'We Stalked. He Balked.'."

Comments

Slick move yourself

[JimRay]

Um, what the hell are you talking about? As far as political bloggers go, right or left, Atrios is one of the most prolific and well read. But way to go, in typical Slashdot fashion, commenting on something you really know nothing about.

Re:Slick move yourself

[vsprintf]

Yeah, 'cos American food is just *soo* tasty. Mmm, chewy bland grey steak, yum yum.

Grey? Where did you eat? A properly prepared American steak is red and still twitching.

Free Publicity

[avdi]

I don't know why people do this... they have to realize by now that a libel suit (or any suit) against any kind of media or publishing organization is just free publicity for the defendant. The most unfortunate outcome of this is that babbling fools like Atrios get all the attention while better, more insightful bloggers get tarred with the same stigma of unprofessionalism without any of the benefit of publicity.

Re:I've read about this controversy.

[rsidd]

Luskin posted Krugman's book tour dates on his site, suggesting to his readers a different coloured pie to throw at each date.

So who's the "literal" stalker? I also read the Krugman interview transcript, it seemed pretty clear to me he was using "stalk" in the dictionary sense (follow purposefully and stealthily) not in the legal sense.

Re:What a royal pussy!

[efflux]

As Luskin is a public figure, to sue atrios, his lawyers will have to not only show negligence of fact, but also that actual malice was intended.

Now, as usual, IANAL, but I'm questioning how atrios can be held accountable for *other* posters' comments, especially when considering the demands of proving actual malice.

Fuck Luskin.

Yes. But ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Bush will have pulled a Reagan : temporary short term growth and delay of dealing with persistent problems. Just make sure the economy is doing well the year before the elections. Loot the treasury to help your sponsors and hand the bill to next generation. Government by Ponzi scheme.

Re:Mod Parent Up

[srichman]

If you publish -- in any form -- you are beholden to laws ...

No. You are talking about libel. Earlier this year bloggers gained protection from libel prosection.

Luskin's lawsuit is grounded on defamation. I can defame you and be sued for it without publishing anything; e.g., I can just go stand in a crowded public place and tell everyone you are a child molester.

More detail.

[Wntrmute]

A great explanation of the full story is here, which should make it much easier to follow for people who don't read these particular blogs regularly.

Re:what ever happened...

[Guido von Guido]

Stalking. "To follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement," according to dictionary.com.

It is entirely possible to be a stalker and not commit a crime. No one has suggested that Luskin has violated any of the stalking laws.

However, Luskin does appear to meet the common, non-legal usage of the term: he does appear to be obsessive about Krugman and he does appear to follow everything he does.

And Ace Indeed He Is

[joshwa]

errr, Atrios/Eschaton gets more than a million visitors a month. Not exactly your small potato.

See here and here.