Jack Thompson Sues Facebook For $40M

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Jack Thompson Sues Facebook For $40M

Posted by samzenpus on Wednesday September 30, 2009 @11:57PM from the just-when-you-thought-it-was-safe dept.

angry tapir writes "Jack Thompson has sued Facebook for US$40 million, saying that the social networking site harmed him by not removing angry postings made by Facebook gamers. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Thompson is best known for bringing suit against Grand Theft Auto's Take Two Interactive, Sony Computer Entertainment America, and Wal-Mart, arguing that the game caused violent behavior."

21 of 421 comments (clear)

He never seems to learn... by A.+Kim · 2009-10-01 00:00 · Score: 5, Interesting

Wasn't this idiot disbarred a couple years ago? Could he really be so desperate to feed his narcissism?
1. Re:He never seems to learn... by OrangeMonkey11 · 2009-10-01 00:06 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Correct the Florida Supreme Court disbarred his ass
2. Re:He never seems to learn... by thepotoo · 2009-10-01 00:06 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Whether he was disbarred or not doesn't really seem to matter.
  Slashdot (and the gaming media in general) are doing a fantastic job feeding his narcissism just by reporting on every frivolous lawsuit. He's just a really skilled troll, and everyone always falls for him.
  (Of course, if we ignored him, he'd probably go away only to be replaced by an anti-gaming figurehead that wasn't batshit fucking insane, so maybe it's best for everyone to just keep him around for the amusement factor.)
  
  --
  Obligatory Soundbite Catchphrase
3. Re:He never seems to learn... by hedwards · 2009-10-01 00:42 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  That's odd, but they left the stick in place?
4. Re:He never seems to learn... by gbarules2999 · 2009-10-01 03:53 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Uh, oh, Jack Thompson will sue Slashdot for that comment.
Mental illness is no laughing matter by Anonymous Coward · 2009-10-01 00:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

This man seriously needs some help from a professional.
1. Re:Mental illness is no laughing matter by Custard+Horse · 2009-10-01 00:26 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  In the UK the courts can declare somebody a vexatious litigant which requires them to apply to the court for leave to make an application to the court. Is there something similar in the US?
  
  And for the inevitable posts that berate the UK and make reference to CCTV, libel law etc. etc., the list of vexatious litigants is quite small and made up of people entirely like Mr Thompson who are, "batshit fucking insane". I know because I had to deal with one of the people on the list - a full weight cock-jockey of the first order. That list of people could bring any country to its knees.
2. Re:Mental illness is no laughing matter by Firethorn · 2009-10-01 00:29 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  but get him off the streets before he costs someone else another million dollars to defend against his criminal actions.
  It's unfortunate, but filing harrasing lawsuits is one of the few crimes people in prison can commit on those outside of it.
  Personally, I think this shows just why Jack was disbarred - a blatant, persistent disregard for any laws that don't say what he wants them to say.
  In this case, while I'm not a lawyer, I know that angry letters can be submitted to a newspaper and published without consequence - they can be angry in tone as long as they don't pass into libel.
  A facebook page is just another point of distribution, with a lower cost of entry so the editorial controls are lowered. In some ways, it can even be considered self-publishing - at which point as long as you avoid libel/slander you're supposed to be protected under the 1st ammendment.
  Jack is a legally trained lawyer, even if he's been banned for malpractice. He should realize this.
  I've had an idea for types like this - at some point you award anybody they sue in an asshat way all their legal fees, lost wages, etc... Be generous. Until they're paid off they can't sue anybody else.
  The slight loss of justice for them* would be outweighed by the increase in justice for everybody else.
  *IE a construction company could 'accidentally' knock down their house, shrug and say *so sue me* and the asshat *couldn't*, not until he's paid all his court mandated settlements off.
  
  --
  I don't read AC A human right
3. Re:Mental illness is no laughing matter by cthulu_mt · 2009-10-01 00:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  a full weight cock-jockey of the first order
  You people do such lovely things with the language. Oscar Wilde would be proud.
  
  --
  Virginia is for lovers. EVE is for griefers.
Wasn't this tool suspended from the bar? by Nursie · 2009-10-01 00:01 · Score: 5, Insightful

I know that doesn't stop him using other lawyers to sue people, but I would think it probably says a lot about the validity of said facebook postings if he *was* struck off for being a serial asshat.
Can't blame Facebook by Pedrito · 2009-10-01 00:02 · Score: 5, Insightful

Sorry Jack, but Facebook didn't make people hate you. You did that all on your own.

What a tool!
1. Re:Can't blame Facebook by techiemikey · 2009-10-01 00:18 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I agree completely with you that Facebook didn't make people hate him...his own actions did. Unfortunately Jack Thompson might (for once) have something on his side since he's complaining that Facebook didn't remove the hate groups against him (like the now removed "i'll pay someone $50 for a video of you punching Jack Thompson in the face" post) but removed a poll of "Should Obama be shot." I don't think it's unreasonable he found a lawyer to help him on this one.
Next week: by bcmm · 2009-10-01 00:04 · Score: 5, Interesting

Jack Thompson Sues Everybody, For No Reason.

Why is he still going? Don't they make him pay his opponent's costs when he loses? Shouldn't he be broke?

--
# cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
Opinions - People are entitled by realsilly · 2009-10-01 00:04 · Score: 5, Insightful

I really hope this Lawsuit is thrown out, simply because people are entitle to their opinions of this guy and what he stands for. He seems to forget that he's on some sort of one man crusade to fight computer game industry, and puts himself out there ans is not ready to be scrutinized for what he believes in. These individuals are using the tools provided to them to voice their opinions. We still have that right to free speech. I have not read these posts, and nor do I want to, thus the beauty of the Net. Now that Mr. Thompson has advertised that these posts exists, he's drawing national attention to them and may find that more people agree with the angry posts rather than his points.
I don't necessarily agree with vial and viscious things but people will do what people will do.

--
Life takes interesting turns, but the most interest is when you're off the beaten path.
Might as well sue himself by FrostDust · 2009-10-01 00:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

I think Jack Thompson's caused more harm to "Jack Thomspon" than any other entity possibly could.
The Difference between a Troll and a real Monster by djdavetrouble · 2009-10-01 00:16 · Score: 5, Insightful

He's just a really skilled troll, and everyone always falls for him.
I would have to disagree, a troll is aware of his/her trolling, it is intentional.
Jack is like a troll, except for the fact that he is dead serious, and there is no "lol, trolled".
He really would restrict your rights and regulate the hell out of video games and the
rest of the online world that in his eyes is destroying the morals of America.

--
music lover since 1969
The man needs professional help by G3ckoG33k · 2009-10-01 00:31 · Score: 5, Informative

From a fairly recent Court Order

"Thompson may petition the Court, but may do so only through the assistance of counsel, whenever such counsel determines that the filing has merit and can be filed in good faith. However, Thompsons frivolous and abusive filings must immediately come to an end. Further, if Thompson submits a filing in violation of this order, he may be subjected to contempt proceedings or other appropriate sanctions. All other pending petitions, motions, and requests for relief filed by Thompson are hereby denied without prejudice."

After reading that Court Order, I must say that this man needs professional help. No, I am not talking about legal help. The examples provided by the Court are very convincing.
1. Re:The man needs professional help by Zaphod-AVA · 2009-10-01 02:02 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Wow. I've always wondered what the legalese for SHUT THE FUCK UP! was.
Re:The Difference between a Troll and a real Monst by macshit · 2009-10-01 01:58 · Score: 5, Insightful

He's just a really skilled troll, and everyone always falls for him.
I would have to disagree, a troll is aware of his/her trolling, it is intentional. Jack is like a troll, except for the fact that he is dead serious, and there is no "lol, trolled".
On usenet, the distinction is made between a "troll", and a "netkook"; their behavior is often strikingly similar, except that the former is doing it intentionally to incite reponses, whereas the latter actually believes what he's saying.
Jack, I gather, is more of a kook than a troll...

--
We live, as we dream -- alone....
Re:The Difference between a Troll and a real Monst by s4m7 · 2009-10-01 03:03 · Score: 5, Insightful

I'd say the Morals of America have greatly changed since it's founding.
Yeah, I miss the old days of witch-burning, slavery, and industrial child labor, too. /p

--
This comment is fully compliant with RFC 527.
You don't really believe that, do you? by Attack+DAWWG · 2009-10-01 03:24 · Score: 5, Insightful

to a country that bans prayer in school.
Prayer is not banned in school. Kids can pray all they want. Government-forced prayer is banned in school. For some reason that gets conservatives so mad you would think they were about to bust an artery.