Stop the Name Calling: Message Board Lawsuit - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

sinatrastar · 08-06-2004, 09:46 AM

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news...&w=RTR&coview=

California lawyer sues Yahoo over message-board posts

LOS ANGELES, Aug 5 (Reuters) - A California lawyer who has waged an ongoing battle with Yahoo Inc. over personal attacks made against him on Yahoo message boards has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the company.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday by associates of corporate attorney Stephen Galton, claims Yahoo has unfairly protected people who post negative messages on its bulletin boards and falsely advertised that it prevents such abusive messages.

"It wouldn't be prudent for us to comment on this pending lawsuit," Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako said in a statement.

Galton is a partner in the firm of Galton & Helm, which specializes in insurance law. He registered to use Yahoo message boards in early 2004 in order to respond to a negative late-2003 post about one of his clients, which he did not identify in the suit.

After Galton posted his response, under the screen name "stephengalton," he was subjected to name-calling by various other users of the message boards.

One user, a person using the screen name "mumioler" who had posted the original messages about Galton's client that started the dispute, wrote a series of new messages calling Galton a "shyster" and an "overly robust geezer that makes a living walking behind the elephant with a shovel."

Other users also took personal shots at Galton, and he filed suit in April of this year against them. At the same time, he sought their personal information via a subpoena from Yahoo. The company, the suit said, responded with incomplete or inaccurate information.

The suit proposes as a class any California resident who has been targeted by abusive messages on a Yahoo board, who tried to get such messages stopped or learn the identity of the message poster, and who had such requests denied within the last four years. It seeks restitution, a permanent injunction and other forms of relief.

© Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.
08/05/2004 20:03

*Bela Lugosi* · 08-06-2004, 09:53 AM

What a loser! He should just suck it up and take it like a man, instead of acting like a crybaby!

Or probably he just wanted to get some money for himself, so he just decided to sue them.

Rhiannon · 08-06-2004, 10:23 AM

haaah

James"Thunder"Early · 08-06-2004, 10:42 AM

He needs to shut up, if everyone here sued for insults this place would be gone!

I am Him · 08-06-2004, 10:50 AM

Everyone is out to get an easy buck, so the real idiots of this matter would be the judge that actually lets this go to trial, and the jury that actually awards damages.

spunkygirl · 08-06-2004, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by *Bela Lugosi*
What a loser! He should just suck it up and take it like a man, instead of acting like a crybaby! Or probably he just wanted to get some money for himself, so he just decided to sue them.

Why it's liable. I would sue if it were me. No one should be subjected to name calling, and if the site says they don't allow stuff like that, then they shouldn't.

But it is funny though, cause how many of us would have the money to sue

EmoJoe · 08-06-2004, 10:59 AM

*Marilyn Monroe* · 08-06-2004, 01:03 PM

Oh my goodness. That seems really immature to me. Aren't there bigger problems out there?

Superstar · 08-06-2004, 01:04 PM

idiot!

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 08-06-2004, 01:47 PM

What an idiot..uh oh I called him an idiot..now I'M gonna be sued

Chambers · 08-06-2004, 02:20 PM

To Sitcoms Online:

I filed a lawsuit against Sitcoms Online on August 6th, 2004. The Pretrial Conference is scheduled for September 23rd, 2004 at 6.14 am in courtroom #666. The case number is #1234567.
The reason I filed the lawsuit was due to the complete disregard for my wellbeing on this message board by the management of Sitcoms Online. I will simply not stand being called names and being disrespected on the internet. Below is a brief summary of the type of hostility I have encountered:

-Members of Sitcoms Online do not greet me politely every afternoon
-Members of said message board said I smell funny (even though they can’t prove anything)
-Members of said MB mocked my avatar
-Members of said MB used crude language in my presence
-Members of said MB said I "take things too seriously"
-Members of said MB insulted my favorite show
-Members of said MB said I have no life and that I should walk behind an elephant with a shovel

Sincerely,
Chambers

PS: I'll see you in court!

CliffClavin · 08-06-2004, 02:25 PM

Chambers

Your joking right

I like you Chambers. I've done nothing to hurt your feelings or have I.

If you are joking please don't joke like that anymore.

Jo_Luvs_Ketchup · 08-06-2004, 02:26 PM

Chambers · 08-06-2004, 02:28 PM

OH MY GOD

OF COURSE I'M JOKING!

Now please tell me YOU are joking for not detecting the sarcasm. Come on - courtroom # 666? "Walking behind an elephant with a shovel"?

Ok so maybe it wasn't that funny, but who would post a lawsuit on a thread making fun of somebody who filed a lawsuit against a damn message board??

Didn't mean to give anybody a heart attack!! Sorry if I did

.

CliffClavin · 08-06-2004, 02:38 PM

I can't detect sarcasm over the internet I usually here it in a persons voice. I didn't read the whole thing sorry.I just started typing.

08-06-2004, 10:23 AM	#3
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	haaah
	__________________ Nothing better the feeling is so fine Simply put I saw your love stream flow

08-06-2004, 10:59 AM	#7
EmoJoe Cool cool cool Forum Addict Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 71,478
	__________________ "I know the difference between TV and reality, Jeff. TV has structure, it makes sense, there are likable leading men. In real life, we have this. We have you." - Abed Nadir, Community www.sitcomsarestupid.blogspot.com

08-06-2004, 02:20 PM	#11
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	To Sitcoms Online: I filed a lawsuit against Sitcoms Online on August 6th, 2004. The Pretrial Conference is scheduled for September 23rd, 2004 at 6.14 am in courtroom #666. The case number is #1234567. The reason I filed the lawsuit was due to the complete disregard for my wellbeing on this message board by the management of Sitcoms Online. I will simply not stand being called names and being disrespected on the internet. Below is a brief summary of the type of hostility I have encountered: -Members of Sitcoms Online do not greet me politely every afternoon -Members of said message board said I smell funny (even though they can’t prove anything) -Members of said MB mocked my avatar -Members of said MB used crude language in my presence -Members of said MB said I "take things too seriously" -Members of said MB insulted my favorite show -Members of said MB said I have no life and that I should walk behind an elephant with a shovel Sincerely, Chambers PS: I'll see you in court!
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

08-06-2004, 09:46 AM	#1
sinatrastar Indian Summer Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 22, 2003 Location: 78 W 86th St. Apt 3E Posts: 6,027	Stop the Name Calling: Message Board Lawsuit http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news...&w=RTR&coview= California lawyer sues Yahoo over message-board posts LOS ANGELES, Aug 5 (Reuters) - A California lawyer who has waged an ongoing battle with Yahoo Inc. over personal attacks made against him on Yahoo message boards has filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against the company. The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday by associates of corporate attorney Stephen Galton, claims Yahoo has unfairly protected people who post negative messages on its bulletin boards and falsely advertised that it prevents such abusive messages. "It wouldn't be prudent for us to comment on this pending lawsuit," Yahoo spokeswoman Mary Osako said in a statement. Galton is a partner in the firm of Galton & Helm, which specializes in insurance law. He registered to use Yahoo message boards in early 2004 in order to respond to a negative late-2003 post about one of his clients, which he did not identify in the suit. After Galton posted his response, under the screen name "stephengalton," he was subjected to name-calling by various other users of the message boards. One user, a person using the screen name "mumioler" who had posted the original messages about Galton's client that started the dispute, wrote a series of new messages calling Galton a "shyster" and an "overly robust geezer that makes a living walking behind the elephant with a shovel." Other users also took personal shots at Galton, and he filed suit in April of this year against them. At the same time, he sought their personal information via a subpoena from Yahoo. The company, the suit said, responded with incomplete or inaccurate information. The suit proposes as a class any California resident who has been targeted by abusive messages on a Yahoo board, who tried to get such messages stopped or learn the identity of the message poster, and who had such requests denied within the last four years. It seeks restitution, a permanent injunction and other forms of relief. © Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information contained In this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd. 08/05/2004 20:03

08-06-2004, 09:53 AM	#2
Bela Lugosi Don't be afraid. Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2004 Location: My House Posts: 216	What a loser! He should just suck it up and take it like a man, instead of acting like a crybaby! Or probably he just wanted to get some money for himself, so he just decided to sue them.

08-06-2004, 10:42 AM	#4
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	He needs to shut up, if everyone here sued for insults this place would be gone!

08-06-2004, 10:50 AM	#5
I am Him Six Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2003 Posts: 1,529	Everyone is out to get an easy buck, so the real idiots of this matter would be the judge that actually lets this go to trial, and the jury that actually awards damages.

08-06-2004, 01:03 PM	#8
Marilyn Monroe Diamonds... Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 24, 2001 Location: Where gentlemen actually prefer brunettes Posts: 4,811	Oh my goodness. That seems really immature to me. Aren't there bigger problems out there?

08-06-2004, 01:04 PM	#9
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	idiot!

08-06-2004, 01:47 PM	#10
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195	What an idiot..uh oh I called him an idiot..now I'M gonna be sued

08-06-2004, 02:25 PM	#12
CliffClavin Yada Yada Yada Senior Member Join Date: May 04, 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,403	Chambers Your joking right I like you Chambers. I've done nothing to hurt your feelings or have I. If you are joking please don't joke like that anymore.
	__________________ We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight. - Milton Berle

08-06-2004, 02:26 PM	#13
Jo_Luvs_Ketchup Member Eternal Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 09, 2003 Posts: 4,195

08-06-2004, 02:28 PM	#14
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	OH MY GOD OF COURSE I'M JOKING! Now please tell me YOU are joking for not detecting the sarcasm. Come on - courtroom # 666? "Walking behind an elephant with a shovel"? Ok so maybe it wasn't that funny, but who would post a lawsuit on a thread making fun of somebody who filed a lawsuit against a damn message board?? Didn't mean to give anybody a heart attack!! Sorry if I did .

08-06-2004, 02:38 PM	#15
CliffClavin Yada Yada Yada Senior Member Join Date: May 04, 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,403	I can't detect sarcasm over the internet I usually here it in a persons voice. I didn't read the whole thing sorry.I just started typing.