As I wrote here a few weeks ago, the web is highly trackable.  I’ve been dealing with a rather unsavory character on my site.  Thanks to DISQUS and this person’s silly assumption that by posting anonymously (or with fake names) they’d be anonymous, I have all the makings for a great harassment and defamation case.  That’s with this post about vengeance and patience was all about.  It all started when a person left some defamatory comments on my site.  They kept at it and just kept making it easier and easier to track them down.  I’ve been spending a lot of time on the phone and in Chicago working with some great lawyers who are on the case.  We have all the “evidence” and information we need to file the needed charges and subpoena some records from this person’s employer.  Subpoenaing their records will let us match up IP addresses so we can positively identify the person responsible.  As is, we’re simply planning to start litigation against his employer.  We haven’t acted yet for a few reasons.

1. Despite subtle hints for this person to back off – they haven’t; so they keep demonstrating a pattern of behavior
2. There’s some side interests involved that I need resolved first
3. And MOST importantly, we’ve been patiently waiting for this case in Buffalo Grove, IL to get resolved

The case in Buffalo Grove is fascinating.  Definitely give it a read if you have time.  Here’s the brief synopsis:

1. Woman runs for local office
2. Someone post defmatory statements about her son on the local paper’s site – the person posts anymously and uses the handle Hipcheck16
3. Woman wins local office position
4. Woman requests the name of the defamer from the paper
5. They can only provide the IP address; the IP address belongs to Comcast
6. Woman requests the identity of the person, based on the IP address, from Comcast
7. Comcast says no
8. Woman takes the case to court
9. Judge demands Comcast provide the information
10. Comcast provides the information to the judge; the judge has not yet turned over the information to the woman

Legal experts, including mine, believe the judge will turn over the identity information so she can take the person to court on the grounds of defamation of character.

Wow, was my first thought.  This is a potentially very slipper slope.  The next thought was how awesome for me if this happens.  It basically opens the door wide open for me and my case.  Well, that’s what my lawyers think.  Then, I said, ok forget about me, this is HUGE for everyone on the internet.

Now, me, I’m an open book.  I never post anonymously even when I use a handle.  But, for those people out there that are often referred to as “trolls” they better watch out.  They think they’re safe and protected by virtual anonymity.  But, guess what, they aren’t.  So the next time you think about posting something untruthful, hateful, mean, defamatory or the like think again.  You might just find yourself in court for anything from harassment, to cyber stalking (felony in many states), to defamation of character.

Maybe Barack Obama could learn from this?