Jefferson Parish president sues his online critics

[Nolacopusmc]

This is hilarious...

Now people are being sued for internet trolling...watchout! You know who you are.

By Richard Rainey, The Times-Picayune
May 11, 2010, 8:45PM

steve_theriot_portrait.JPGTimes-Picayune archiveInterim Jefferson Parish President Steve Theriot Citing defamation and "suffered embarrassment" allegedly caused by online comments posted at www.NOLA.com, Jefferson Parish interim President Steve Theriot has filed a lawsuit requesting the identities behind 11 user accounts on the website.

The suit, which is seeking an unspecified amount of money for damages, alleges that anonymous comments left on the site through those accounts "were made with malice, and a blatant, intentional disregard for the truth, and with the intent that such statements damage plaintiffs."

NOLA.com is the web affiliate of The Times-Picayune. The suit was filed against the commenters. It asks the website to reveal their identities, but it does not name NOLA.com or The Times-Picayune as a defendant.

James O'Byrne, NOLA.com's director of content, said, "We have received a subpoena and we will discuss it with our attorneys. We have no comment at this time."

In addition to Theriot, the parish government is a plaintiff in the suit. Theriot said the parish is paying for it.

An examination of the screen names listed in the lawsuit shows that the comments are mostly reactions to news stories about a scandal that tore through former Parish President Aaron Broussard's administration. Federal authorities launched a criminal investigation last year after reports that an insurance agency co-owned by Broussard's top aide, Tim Whitmer, was doing business with public agencies and parish contractors.

The user accounts at NOLA.com on Tuesday appeared to show varying degrees of activity. Two appeared to have been blocked by the website, and only three mentioned Theriot by name.

In one instance, a comment posted under the name "watchout41" on Jan. 23 lambasted the Parish Council for selecting Theriot, a retired state legislative auditor, as the interim president within days of Broussard's Jan. 8 resignation.

"Worse than that thier (sic) golden boy Theriot who is supposed to be the know all and king of ethics and ethics laws took the appointment knowing what happened," the post stated. "He is so great that he did not know the law was broken with his first official act as parish president which was taking the oath to the office. ARROGANT MORONS I TELL YOU!"

Another user goes after Theriot more directly.

"Theriot, just another Jefferson Parish politician thug mobster trained by his mentor John Alario, dressed up in a facade of respectability by a corrupt Louisiana Legislature," stated a Jan. 27 comment under the user name "viewfromhell."

Other comments on the remaining accounts seemed to focus more on Broussard, Whitmer and former Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson than on Theriot's administration. Whitmer resigned Jan. 4; Wilkinson resigned March 4 after Theriot placed him on administrative leave in February.

The other commenters are identified in the lawsuit as watchout40, repentingamigo, jpigpen4, fauxu, taxesfortom, taxesfortim, riverbirch, prayerwarrior2, and lettenhaveit.

"I really can't make any comments regarding the litigation, just as I would on any litigation," Theriot said Tuesday.

The suit was filed by attorneys Nan Alessandra and David Korn of the Phelps Dunbar law firm.

The lawsuit also references messages posted on a local web log called slabbed.wordpress.com, but doesn't specifically identify any comments, screen names or accounts used there.

"We haven't actually been contacted by Jefferson Parish at all, as far as official channels," said Doug Handshoe, who co-founded that site in Mississippi. After reading the lawsuit, he said: "I think it's certainly designed to intimidate and silence online commenters.

"We don't intend to alter what we're doing at all," he said.

 

[Speedlace]

Poor Mr. Theriot; someone on the interwebs doesn't like you...
...

Theriot just broke the number one rule used when dealing with trolls.

What a ****ing waste.

 

[St.Francisville]

Whatever happened to that little thing called...ummm...what was it?
Oh yeah! Freedom of Speech. Seriously, this is just another ******** case in a litigation happy world. Makes me sick.

 

[charliepapa]

just another case of "HEY! LOOK AT ME!!!"

 

[preachandshoot]

That is quite possibly the dumbest thing I have ever read.

 

[dfsutton]

Hey Mr. Theriot. Have you ever heard of the 1st Amendment you douchebag?

 

[Geardo]

Hopefully they will counter sue, and take his ass to the cleaners!

 

[CloudStrife]

"In addition to Theriot, the parish government is a plaintiff in the suit. Theriot said the parish is paying for it."

 

[dfsutton]

"In addition to Theriot, the parish government is a plaintiff in the suit. Theriot said the parish is paying for it."

Wow, didn't catch that part on the first pass.

Using Parish Money to sue people for exercising their 1st Amendment Rights.

 

[oleheat]

Damn those cyberbullies!!!! Damn them I say!!!

 

[oleheat]

"In addition to Theriot, the parish government is a plaintiff in the suit. Theriot said the parish is paying for it."

If the Parish is expected to pay for his juvenile BS, then the people of the Parish should decide whether or not they want to allow it in the first place. Put it to a vote- if you dare.....

 

[FishingBack]

How ridiculous....

 

[JR1572]

This is hilarious...

Now people are being sued for internet trolling...watchout! You know who you are.

Thanks for the warning!

JR1572

 

[oleheat]

He must be a whinny ass.....

Why not just do what we do- when faced with troll assualt, send in the counter-troll tac team......

 

[Hardballing]

A politician who is embarrassed?

Now THAT may be a first in and of itself.