Google ordered by judge to ID anonymous blogger who targeted lawyer
Google Inc. must identify an anonymous blogger who has been targeting a New York consumer lawyer online, a state court judge says.
A stipulated order (PDF) issued earlier this month in the Manhattan Supreme Court case still offered some wiggle room, should the blogger respond. But, if not, Google was to provide his or her identity to attorney Fredrick Schulman. His lawyer says the search engine giant has cooperated, and ongoing litigation is expected, the Wall Street Journal Law Blog (sub. req.) reports.
The unknown critic called Schulman “crooked” and “shady” in online posts on his website, the newspaper says. Schulman, who apparently has not yet filed such a lawsuit, reportedly intends to seek damages for alleged defamation.
Posts on the blog, stopcrookedlawyers.blogspot.com, which is still live, indicate the blogger is relying on his perceived free speech rights and a claim that he is merely expressing his opinions about Schulman to protect him against potentially being found liable in such a suit.
