Nicholas Carroll, the author of the bestseller Dancing with Lawyers, has just released a new study – THE LAW OF THE BLOG. Carroll offers clear, direct advice on how not to get your tail sued while blogging or otherwise hell-raising online. (There was a reason why the New York Times, reviewing his last book, declared that Carroll “probably knows as much as anybody about lawyers.”) He also brings a fine sense of humor to a subject that is usually more arid than the Sahara.
After reading his analysis, I will never call anyone “poor as a church mouse” again. (Assuming I’m not sampling hops while blogging).
On the other hand, as far as I can tell, applying the word “weasel” remains almost libel-proof.
He is charging $9.95 for his study – less than the price of being verbally bitch-slapped by some lawyer’s receptionist.
Heck, Jim, you’re too used to those East Coast prices. Gimme a call and I can have my secretary slap you around for a low low $4.95 – AND probably get you a twofer deal. 😀
The following are only my opinions and I am not an expert on anything:
He sends it online (72 pages) and then you can print yourself a copy. ‘Con-artist’ is defamatory (good) unless it does not apply to all the crooks I’ve been using it on (politicians).
And don’t mess with little unknown people (like me) unless you can afford a good lawyer. Defaming little people or blogging small lies can start the most lawsuits.
According to Law of the Blogger I’ve broken a few rules more times than I want to mention (and I shouldn’t mention it either.) But they’ve got less than two years to catch up with me via the statute of limitations (my only escape.)
The best and safest place to opine is on a newsmedia blog – the press are experts on not defaming and have some protection from the law.
Be careful, some types of defamation are criminal offenses – do not drink and blog or blog while under the influence.
It was worth ten bucks and the cost of printing it. 4.5 stars
Don’t get too complacent about the two years – in most jurisdictions it’s two years from the discovery of the injury, not from the commission. So if Jim calls me nasty hurtful names here but I don’t find out about it until Christmas, his 2 year clock doesn’t start running for another couple months.
Of course, most states also have a “statute of ultimate repose,” but here in Oregon that’s TEN years that he still has to bite his nails, hoping I don’t discover his scurillity. 😀
It seems to me the best defense against slander/libel suits is truth. Never call anyone a lying scumbag unless they actually are a lying scumbag.
Another good way to avoid suits (law and three-piece) is to be broke with no visible means of support. Move around frequently. Don’t own anything of value in your own name. Don’t keep a bank account. Spend all your money on booze, hookers and good dope as soon as get it. Most lawyers won’t handle cases against this type of defendant – unless the client is dumb enough to pay a huge retainer up front.
Tom, would it work if a guy spent his money on ammo instead of dope?
LawHobbit – what exactly kind of “twofer” is your secretary offering?
Is that legal in Oregon?
The feds kinda go nuts out there in Portland – I haven’t forgotten that guy they locked up for 3 weeks discovering that he placed at an ad in the Muslim Yellow Pages.
Wait a minute, I thought this was all in good fun…….You mean calling somebody a “crooked sociopathic
demagogue,and a libertine
spawn of a jackal”is perhaps
a crime? Spoilsports.
Being polite in politics is like going to church drunk, an affront to both God and literary license. It seems a reliable and universal code is in order.
Jim, the problem is that if I spend all my money on ammo, I wouldn’t be able to move around. Unless, like, I didn’t want to carry it with me.
As for the twofer – tell ya what, you can call and ask about it. I can guarantee you that you’ll get your previously described slapping. 😀
On the other hand, some clients – and Republican Senators – pay good money for a good slapping so maybe the deal is still viable.
As far as slapping the @#$@! out of someone – Would your secretary give a discount to Republican senators who opened with the “Astaire” – that shuffling foot move that Larry Craig made famous?
The perfect Zombie.
They’re here in force.