Storm Chaser Contractor Sues 18 Anonymous

Storm Chaser Contractor Files Suit Against 18 TOPIX Forum Posters WeatherGuard Construction just filed a lawsuit last week, against 18 anonymous "John Doe's" who posted in a TOPIX Forum regarding their company.

Here is a link to the 12 page complaint for: "Libel/Slander" http://www.illinoisconstructionlawbl...oes%201-18.pdf

I too posted in that thread, which had over 330 replies, but as usual, I did not pre-judge or slander or libel the identified company, because I have no first hand knowledge about them, just hear-say, so my comments were restricted to opinions on consumer advocacy and Due Diligence in selecting the contractor to provide your Insured Storm Damage Remediation Work.

Out of all of the posts made in that thread, the only ones that did not get edited out and deleted by the Forum Administration were the ones that I made.

Check out: http://www.illinoisconstructionlawbl...ridays-5012009 for the ABA write up on the interest in this case.

It is Cook County Case Number, 2009L004438

Just for further clarification, the same company seemingly attempted to Sue the TOPIX Forum itself previously, but that case was finally discharged from what I read.

Case Information Summary for Case Number 2008-L-014222Plaintiff(s) WEATHERGUARD CONSTRUCTION

Defendant(s) TOPIX LLC

https://w3.courtlink.lexisnexis.com/cookcounty/FindDock.asp?NCase=2009-L-004438&SearchType=2&Database=2&case_no=&=&=&=&PLty pe=2&sname=topix&CDate=

DISMISSED FOR WANT OF PROSECUTION Judge: DAVIS, RONALD S.

Ed>>>

A lawsuit like that could be a great type of advertising for the plaintiffs but winning or losing doesn't really settle the core issues. Anonymity is one core issue. Storm chasing is another core issue. Ill-considered posting is another core issue. I always assume that if I say it, someone will eventually find out. If I don't want to be responsible for getting caught saying it I just flat leave it unsaid. Period.>>>

Geez. That screwed up all of them, so I took the URL tags back out.

Do the Google Search and Find the Attorneys Blog and the article and links are in there.

Ed>>>

Sorry Mike. I forgot that I had to put the URL tags around them on this forum.

They are or should be fixed now. I didn't test them to see for sure, but they are activated at least.

But, you can also just copy/paste the links into your browser.

Or, find them like I did. Google Search: "WeatherGuard Illinois Complaints" without the quotation marks.

Ed>>>

The reason I posted this information, is not to vilify the Storm Contractor who felt the need to take Legal Action, but to inform those that Post about any other business, so that there comments remain their opinion only, rather than what could be viewed as Slander or Libelous by some courts.

Even the fact of having to defend your right to Free Speech, even if it were only borderline, should give any poster enough reasoning to be careful about what you say about somenone else.

Ed>>>

Very interesting. I'm going to check out the links when I have time tonight.>>>