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Thursday, March 03, 2011

Ind. Courts - "Rulings could chill online expression"

Updating this ILB entry from March 2, 2011, Mikel Livingston of the Lafayette Journal Courier has this story today. Here are some quotes from the start of the lengthy article:

A pair of recent court rulings out of Marion County could have widespread ramifications for news media outlets and the readers and viewers who post on their online forums.

In separate rulings, Marion County Superior Court Judge Scherry "S.K." Reid ruled that the Indianapolis Star and the Indiana Business Journal must turn over identifying information for Internet users who posted anonymous comments on online forums run by those news outlets.

Specifically, the posters criticized Jeffrey Miller, former chief executive of Junior Achievement of Central Indiana. Miller filed a defamation lawsuit last year and is attempting to include those who criticized him online in the list of defendants.

The Indiana Business Journal has turned over the requested information while the Indianapolis Star has refused. A ruling on whether Indianapolis-based news station WRTV also must turn over information about people who submitted comments to its website is expected this week.

It's the first time in Indiana that a judge has ruled that news media can be ordered by the court to reveal identifying information about those who post on online forums.

The ILB has been able to obtain a copy of Judge Reid's brief Order Compelling Non-Party Discovery against the Indianapolis Star.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 3, 2011 08:31 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts