Free Republic LLC filed a Notice of Claim with the City of Fresno

Press Release Charles L. Doerksen, Attorney at Law | 09/22/03 | Jim Robinson

[demlosers]

Dang I misread the the title... disregard my last post.

[demlosers]

You go Jim!

[mattdono]

Look, it has to do with using the power of the government to falsely label a private group.

They simply can't do this. By the way, this is making its rounds on the Internet (no doubt propogated by the real haters at DU, Barcop, and the like). This necessarily means that a person who otherwise might be interested in being a member of the site and contributing financially to our grassroots efforts, might not be. Certainly, the social norm/more of being labeled a "hate group" or a "bigot", or a "racist" or other comments would affect a businesses ability to make money. The true effects, while hard to measure, are real.

That is what the monetary portion of the suit is about.

If you were maliciously libeled by a government institution with NO evidence or due process and, as a result, lost your job and/or earning capacity, then you would and DO have every right to file a lawsuit.

You would (rightly) want restitution for damages, the people involved pushished (or fired), and a written apology that exonorates your good name. This is totally appropriate.

[Semi Civil Servant]

I just saw this.

Go, JimRob, go!

[lainde]

Go Jim...Just heard the news!

[mattdono]

but that there are enough individual posts that the Fresnistas

And, in a court of law, AS OPPOSED TO the Freso HRC, we can easily present 100xs (maybe a 1000xs) as many that clearly show the good intentions of the posters on FR AND the systematic measures that are taken to assure that violence, racism, personal attacks, and profanity are not tolerated.

<aside>

Ask yourself a few questions...

1. How many times is "NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts." displayed each day? Well, it happens everytime someone posts or replies to a post...gotta be 10,000s per day? I don't know, but it is easy to quantify.
2. How many prayer threads and replies have there been?
3. How about an entire group on FR dedicated to poetry?
4. What about the entire group that pays DAILY tribute to our veteran?
5. What about the several hundred post thread congratulating one of the members on a notable acheivement (graduating, marriage, new baby, etc.)?

</aside>

So, you can carp that someone, somewhere might be able to find a thread or a reply to a thread and had an off handed comment, but these are not the norm and could NEVER be the "proof" or due process that was needed for a government institution to systematically label FR as a hate group.

As well, the moderators can point to 10,000s of threads and/or replies that have been axed for the purpose of keeping profanity, racism, and violence out of FR. Moderators aren't Gods, but a reasonable and systematic decision process is in place. The "Report Abuse" link is there for a reason. If you see something like what you described, then I suggest you be a good member of FR, click the "Report Abuse" button, and let the mods know. Don't let your arguement rest in your own apathy. If you see it, do something about it.

[Redbob]

Go Jim!
Sic 'em!

[Redbob]

Go Phobos!
Go Deimos!

[Redbob]

"We must have the high ground and really, what harm did that release do Free Republic?"

Oh, 'high ground' my arse!
Who are you, really? Denny Hastert?
The 'harm' lies in our ignoring such insults and allowing the uninformed to believe that therefore they must be true.

This is all about maintaining our good name.

[gitmo]

God bless, Jim.

[Pest]

bump

[freedomcrusader]

Just throwing in my 2 cents in support of the suit. The commission is trying to lend the imprimatur of government to the notion that Free Republic is something that it is not. They should be held to account.

No one else will do it if Jim doesn't.

By the way, has counsel told us what our prospects for success are? Is this a cut-and-dried slam dunk (to mix metaphors)?

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Ping.. incase you missed it :o)

[proud American in Canada]

way to go!!!! Best of luck with this. They need to be held accountable.

as for this: "roll back decades of governmental largesse, and to champion causes which further conservatism in the United States of America. This claim arises from..."

maybe someone said this before... but the pleading omitted the "hoo-yah". ;)

[Way2Serious]

What part of this claim do you see as unjust?

Ummm.... how about asking for A MILLION DOLLARS in local taxpayers' money?

I guess if you don't pay taxes it's not a big deal.

[Rocko]

Go for it bump.

[danmar]

It is about time Jimbo, that you take the gloves off and kick some major butt.
It is nothing wrong to defend you and your/our beliefs from the "PC Police"!

Go out my friend and kick some major ass and take names. Give them Hell Jim, go for the throat!

[pointsal]

PING FROM THE CENTRAL COAST

[CyberCowboy777]

MeeknMing: Thanks for taking up my slack!

Chad: You did get the disclaimer regarding the term 'anytime'.

lol

[CyberCowboy777]

Class Action Lawsuit!

I have been slandered and defamed.