When Bloggers attack: Don’t blame Cal for his counter suit

Remember how my Blogger buddy Cal Skinner got his ass sued by a newspaper (of all things) for writing that it was in the pocket of the local Republican Party? Well, Cal fired off a counter claim, and the Citizen Media Law Project is both  amused and disgusted by the whole thing:

Skinner bases his countersuit for defamation and false light on the fact that the Herald published an article on the original lawsuit, “Northwest Herald’s owner sues blogger, claims defamation.” The article, according to Skinner, “essentially parroted the allegations set forth in the lawsuit, but also contained the following . . . statement: Northwest Herald Publisher John Rung said Skinner’s assertions were ‘reckless and completely fabricated.’” (Answer Counterclaims ¶ 25). Do we want parties to sue anyone reporting the allegations contained within a complaint? Better yet, do we want a legal regime that bars parties from denying allegations made by members of the media? If so, I see legal troubles for essentially every public figure with the temerity to call the press “liars” (I’m looking in your direction, John Edwards.)

Neither lawsuit should have been filed in the first place. It is hard to imagine that either newspapers or bloggers are rooting for their champion. What a depressing sight. That is the problem with the modern legal duel: we too often find ourselves in the curious position of watching a fight and hoping both sides lose.

Go read the whole article in its snarky glory. The winning graph is this:

Surely the Herald, and just about every other newspaper in the nation, has implied that some politician is beholden to a special interest group with only shaky evidence. The Herald does cover Chicago, doesn’t it?

Classic.

My two cents: Don”t blame Cal. When bloggers get sued or threatened wityh a lawsuits, you do what you have to. In other words: Cal didn’t start the fight, but he’s gonna finish it.