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From: culmer@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Charles Culmer)
Newsgroups: rec.humor.d,news.misc
Subject: Re: Sue the bastard (was Jonathan Richmond jeopardizes the Usenet)
Keywords: legal fund, defamation, damage to business
Message-ID: <6563@netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: 6 Dec 88 17:00:40 GMT
References: <20539@mirror.UUCP> <1991@stiatl.UUCP>
Sender: news@netnews.upenn.edu
Reply-To: culmer@eniac.seas.upenn.edu.UUCP (Charles Culmer)
Organization: University of Pennsylvania
Lines: 34

In article <1991@stiatl.UUCP> john@stiatl.UUCP (John DeArmond) writes:
>
>What I think needs to be done is for us in the Usenet community to form
>a legal defense fund so that Brad can file a libel suit against this asshole
>and his cohorts in the newspapers.  The one way to crush such drivel is 
>through their pocketbooks.  If Brad does not have the time, then surely
>we can find someone else who has been slandered or libeled.  
>
>I'll volunteer my time to administer such a fund if there is any interest.  
>I'll also kick in a couple of hundred bucks to get it going.
>
>What do you think, netlanders?   Are we going to let this cesspool of a 
>person ruin the net for everybody?  I sure hope not.   Let's get a 
>discussion going.  I've changed the subject line to "Sue the Bastard"
>to reflect the new subject thread.  Lets talk it up and get moving!!

A few comments--

(1)  I don't care to use the legal system just to punish someone, no matter
what kind of jerk he is.

(2)  On the other hand, this jerk may have acted in a deliberate attempt to
damage the moderator's business.  I would contribute to a fund to seek some
compensation for that damage.

(3)  Most of all, I want the newspapers and administrators to forget about
the incident before we lose any freedom of communication.  Confrontation is
probably not the best way to get out of the limelight.  However, I will be
happy to contribute to any fund whose purpose is to protect the environment
to which we have become accustomed.  This might be a job better suited for
lobbyists than attorneys.

Charles W. Culmer
culmer@eniac.seas.upenn.edu        Mike Milken for Treasury Secretary