Help! I am being sued for my participation in davis_square

[ron_newman]

Twenty-five minutes ago, a constable delivered to me an unexpected package. It is a lawsuit by Jonathan Graves Monsarrat, alleging that he was libeled by me, Deb Filcman, and "John and Jane Does 1-100, presently unknown individuals". He is seeking $500,000 in compensatory damages, $5 million in punitive damages, and deletion of various LJ posts and comments.

I am called (incorrectly) "the moderator" of this forum.

Many participants here are named by LJ handle. "Plaintiff intends to identify the Doe Defendants through means of discovery and will amend this lawsuit to identify the Doe Defendants by proper legal names upon obtaining such information"

If I don't reply within 20 days, a default judgment will be entered against me.

All possible advice and help would be greatly appreciated right now.

In particular, if anyone here is or knows an appropriate attorney who'd be willing to help out at least a bit pro bono, let me know.

ETA 5/1/13: please see this followup post for PDF scans of the amended complaint I was served with, as well as the original complaint that I never received. Please continue the discussion there after reading the complaints.

Comments

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

OY! What brought this on? D_S has been mostly dead for months, and I don't remember anything about this guy in over a year.

Is there a lawyer in the house?

[ron_newman]

it's about this post, and various related discussions on the Somerville Journal blog, davis_snark, sf_drama, and a community called 'otf_wank' on an LJ-like site called 'journalfen'

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

What a horrible man.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

That's over 3 years old! actually, that must be what caused this, because the statute of limitations appears to be 3 years for libel. So, I would think that its beyond the statute of limitations, but he may be pointing to a specific response that's slightly more recent?

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Why not just delete the posts (the ones here, I mean)?

[tikva.livejournal.com]

OMG, THAT GUY?!? Ron, I'm gonna apply to law school RIGHT NOW so I can become a lawyer so I can represent you because seriously, holy crap.

(Hi, have we met?)

[ron_newman]

He filed the complaint on Feburary 4, 2013, but only served me with it today.

[ron_newman]

I don't think that would let me off the hook. In fact, it would constitute destroying evidence.

[cos]

I think that would be an unfortunate response to something like this, and also fear that it'd give someone in the future justification for getting things deleted.

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

Because, for lack of a better term, that's allowing the terrorists to win.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Well, isn't his suit seeking to delete certain posts and comments?

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

What an asshole!

ETA: Go ahead, Jonmon, sue me too, you statutory raping douchbag.

Maybe contact Denise Provost and see if she has any recommendations (I don't know if it would be legal for her to help you out directly since she's not currently practicing and may not have a current law license).

Joe Ross, much recommended for real estate transactions and rental issues, and an all around good guy doesn't specialise in this, but he may have someone he sends people to.

[londo.livejournal.com]

IANAL, but I know several. If by this time tomorrow you somehow haven't gotten in touch with any, let me know and I will fix that for you.

[csbermack.livejournal.com]

While on the one hand I want to know all 100 Does, so I can alert my friends and possibly myself (although I don't think I said anything in the thread) I think you should not identify other people who are parties in the suit until you have a lawyer, and then probably not in public.

In fact, my entire I AM NOT A LAWYER advice here is to say nothing more until you have consulted with an attorney.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Oh good lord.

[ron_newman]

Whatever you can do, do now please. Thanks.

[ron_newman]

I'm deleting the comment you replied to, since I can't edit it anymore. After removing any reference to specific LJ users, it says:

Yes, but it's also seeking $5.5 million in monetary damages from me, Deb Filcman, and "John and Jane Does 1-100, presently unknown individuals" identified only by online handle.

Also, I have no control whatsoever over davis_snark, sf_drama, journalfen, or the Somerville Journal blog.

[etana.livejournal.com]

This. Pissed off. Ron, can we help you pay for an attorney if you find one!?

[antimony.livejournal.com]

FYI, otf_wank, if you're not familiar with it, spun out of fandom_wank (also on journalfen) which highlighted bizarre wanky things happening in fandom -- otf_wank was the spinoff for non-fandom discussion. It's another snark community.

I don't have any legal advice, but good luck.

[spatch]

Winner, most appropriate avatar for this thread

[bluesauce.livejournal.com]

Motherfucker. I just dropped a line to an attorney I know, I'll see who he refers me to and point you their way.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

I also considered using this avatar.

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

That avatar is even better. This is ridiculous!

[wild-huntress.livejournal.com]

Not a community member; not in MA, and have no idea who JGM is, but I am a law student, saw this on the LJ home page, and wanted to offer a suggestion for obtaining legal advice. Most if not all law schools would have some sort of volunteer legal clinic where law students work with practitioners doing research and, if necessary, handling cases on a pro bono basis (or at much more reasonable fees). The Boston area has plenty of law schools, so I'd suggest Googling university and community legal clinics in the area.

Needless to say, this post does not constitute legal advice from me - I don't even know MA law! Best of luck to you, though.

[totient]

Some time ago, I was peripherally involved in a similar lawsuit which Linda Abrahams successfully had dismissed. Her phone number is (508) 650-1000

My own lawyer is Bill White, who I think is generally awesome and who, as an Alderman, is likely to be sympathetic to cases ultimately stemming from city actions as this one does. His personal contact info is here: http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us/departments/board-of-aldermen/at-large-3