Posters on Somerville message board facing lawsuit

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

"White also pointed out that some of the screen names identified in the lawsuit were merely responsible for posting a link to another website.

"Monsarrat's complaint, whatever elements of merit it might have, is framed in a way that should be of grave concern to anyone who values freedom of expression and opposes legal bullying," he wrote."

Full article on BOSTON.COM here: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2013/05/posters_on_somerville_message.html

Comments

[anomie666.livejournal.com]

Great article!

Thanks for posting it.

[inahandbasket]

Co-founder of Turbine? I had no idea.
Learn something new every day. :)

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Very well written!

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

I think it's worth calling out this bit of explanation/conflict-of-interest-avoidance text:

“Like a small group of other independent entrepreneurs, Jon Montsarrat borrows a desk in the Globe Lab space under a standard agreement,” said Ellen Clegg, a Globe spokeswoman. “We have a small pilot project in the works with his company, but nothing has launched yet.”

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I find this sentence rather telling:

"Three years later, I've been on maybe two dates, I've lost an employee, I've missed out on a job, I've gained nearly 100 pounds,"

Dating is the very FIRST thing on the list? Is that what this ultimately really is about?

[tikva.livejournal.com]

First thing we learned in public health school: Correlation != causation.

[jadelennox]

If in three years an individual has only been turned down for one job opportunity, only had one employee leave their employ, and has had a dry spell --but not a complete drought--in dating, that's called being part of the human experience. In fact, that's called being massively privileged in the human experience.

[ifotismeni]

that quote really speaks volumes. the journalist put it in there for a reason.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Word. I submitted 450 applications before landing work. Believe me, I'm not suing anybody because of it.

[tikva.livejournal.com]

Plus he got teh Death Fat, and it's d_s' fault. This is why we can't have nice things.

[ron_newman]

One not-so-small error in this article:

The lawsuit seeks damages of over $500,000

The lawsuit seeks damages of $5,500,000.
$500,000 of "compensatory" and $5 million of "punitive" damages.

ETA: In response to my e-mail, the writer has updated the article to say "The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $5.5 million" (instead of "over $500,000").

[jadelennox]

it's all those baby flavored donuts we give out.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

pretty good round-up, aside from the part where they missed the extra damages.

[genesayssitdown.livejournal.com]

they also spelled his name incorrectly towards the end, it should be "jon monsarrat" not "jon montsarrat". nit picky, i know...

[ron_newman]

I don't know if this article is destined for the Business, Metro, or GlobeNorth section. I've asked, and will post the answer if I get one.

ETA 5/15: I talked to a Globe editor this afternoon. For now, this is just an online article, not one destined for print. It's possible that a print article could develop later.

[benndragon.livejournal.com]

As a complete aside, I totally read that as "correlation != castration" ;P

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

That is also accurate.

[ron_newman]

Now that I've looked at the complaint again (in order to direct the Globe journalists at the claim for punitive damages, on page 28), I see he also mentions "trebled damages". So, are we actually being sued for $16.5 million ?

Of course, I find the claim for treble damages to be entirely bassless.

[cos]

Maybe that's why his letter offers have strings attached.

[ron_newman]

And he sure does blow his own horn a lot.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

thank fucking you.

jeez.

and yes, I'M FAT AND TIRED AND IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT

[ron_newman]

In response to my e-mail, the writer has updated the article to say "The lawsuit seeks damages of at least $5.5 million" (instead of "over $500,000").

[redbird]

And paragraph 4 gives the details of the arrest that he is upset with davis_square posters for linking to earlier articles about. Monsarrat, meet Streisand

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I don't often *really* laugh out loud. Thank you.

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

He should have bought a guitar: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/2013/05/14/men-with-guitars-are-more-attractive-women-study/UjIVKzi6RvLFxYeODdntaN/story.html

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

Better watch what you guys say on here, he might be lurking around here waiting for more potential millions.

On that note, can you guys start damaging my reputation on here? I'm in need of a lot of cash.

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

Lol, so I did some looking:
http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/10/25/turbine-going-through-layoffs-today/

So that's why that "one" employee got laid off! It all makes sense now!

[cos]

I believe he was no longer involved with Turbine at the time that story was posted.

[gingicat]

Jarret Bencks used to be the editor of the Medford Patch, for what it's worth.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Also, these are all things that can happen to people for a huge litany of reasons. When I was working as a temp, I missed out on jobs all the time, but that was due to my resume and interviewing skills (or lack thereof).

[drglam]

I wonder how long it will take for him to add Jarret Bencks and/or the Boston GLobe to the lawsuit.

[ron_newman]

That would be fun, with him still having his office inside the Globe building.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

I've had one date in four years, who should I sue? :[

[cos]

That may depend on how many employees you've lost and how much weight you've gained.

[lheena.livejournal.com]

I've actually lost about 40lb, so does that equal the dates I haven't had? And I sort of got in a fight with one of my contracting clients... once?

[aedifica]

Shapely Prose? :)