If that Perry Mason want to be moron is calling this a win, Edith better get herself a new attorney!

Well he's appealing ... now that's a shocker ... NOT! We knew that ... however according to the TT article that was cut and pasted on to his website ... and here we were all under the assumption that they don't read the TT ... again NOT! Judy will be seeking even more names in the appeal ... this will not be over soon ... but it is a victory for Judy Gatelli ... and yet another loss for Pappa Pilchesky.

<dancing> whoo hoooo!!!!

Put me in for 50 on that one and add another fifty that at least one of the Screwed Six is an alter ego of Joeyboy. I am guessing "Adam". :)

How about all the postings at DD along the lines of "Great! Now Judy will have to answer all these questions about [insert pornographic reference here]!"? Funny, but she didn't have to answer them for the trial, why now will she have to answer them for the appeal? Personally I think there are more than a few DD posters who get their rocks off at the thought of any sexual act, hence the obsessions.

Here are my predictions:

1. The appeal will be heard and denied.
2. Pilchesky will claim that he doesn't have the actual names, only email addresses.
3. Pilchesky will surrender the email addresses.

...and we will be there every step of the way.

As for getting another lawyer, I'd be careful if I were Joe: some of that estate money will probably have to be returned.


-- Edited by Agamemnon at 10:55, 2008-10-04

Free Speech does't require a multi-paragrah disclaimer Mr. Pilchesky.

I don't know if "Great news" should exactly be the sentiment here. Free speech just took a blow, at least at this court level. The tax dollars of the citizens of Scranton are being spent in a lawsuit because a council person was called names.

The list of 90 plus anonymous posters Gatelli sought the names of was pared down to six. It sounds some what frivoulous to ask for names of people, and have a judge decide lawsuits against a major percentage of them is not warranted.

And what of the six persons whose names the judge ordered revealed? Is it because they allegedly used a slang term about oral copulation when talking about Gatelli? In my life, I've been called lazy, ugly, stupid, inept, fat, and even worthless. Can I now sue the people who called me those names in public? Is this the society we've become? Are we revelling because Pilchesky took a slight hit, or because we don't believe people should be free to speak their mind on a website?

-- Edited by Balko the wonder dog at 17:46, 2008-10-04 (forword spacing)

-- Edited by Balko the wonder dog at 17:48, 2008-10-04

Balko the wonder dog wrote:

---

In my life, I've been called lazy, ugly, stupid, inept, fat, and even worthless. Can I now sue the people who called me those names in public? Is this the society we've become?

---

You certainly could if the names that you were called damaged you in a way that could be documented. For instance being identified as 'stupid" in front of potential clients..say if you were an investmanet broker could be quite damaging..and yes you could sue and you could quite possibly win. We call it slander (if spoken)and libel (if written).

Now another examble might be if I were to run around your neighborhood and say that your Mother gives BJ's to anyone who wants one....I bet it would cause you to do something in return....hey but that is my right to free speech according your view. Right?

So yes I am revelling in the nose slapping Joey just took and I am also rejoicing in how carefully the court reviewed the comments in question.They bent over backwards to protect speech, that while offensive in the extreme, was still in fact protected speech... thus reducing the actionable comments from the 90+ posters to the Screwed Six. So rest easy Balko.... free speech is still safe in America... but just remember free speech does not mean being able to say anything you want (see comments about your Mom above) it means being safe to express displeasure in your government. You can still do that all day long and twice as long on Sundays. Sleep well all is still right in the world. :))

-- Edited by IHavehadenoughofhaters at 01:56, 2008-10-05

Balko the wonder dog wrote:

---

Ah, there's the rub. Who determines what is civilized? Who determines what are "reasonable limits" to this free speech? And if free speech is limited, is it free at all?
The courts do... they do it all the time. They will in this case also.

-To "haters"....Perhaps you know my mother better than I do. Say what you will, you DO have the right to, and that is the issue, not my mother's obvious oral skills.

No actually that is not the issue. It is not an issue of whether we have the right to free speech we all know we do have that right. It is whether these words in particular are protected under that clause, that is the issue.
I think you need to research the issue a bit more.
The issue is whether the words slandered or libeled the other person, if they did... payment will commence and 'free speech" will cease be free, in fact, it will become quite expensive indeed!

In the case of the words against your Mother if she were, for instance, in charge of a classroom in a church run school such an accusation from me could cost her a job. So unless I have verifiable proof of my comments, my free speech will become very "un" free very fast. So while I agree in theory with the concept of free speech ( It is what I love most about my country) I also respect the right enough to know not to abuse it. DD abuses free speech ,,,that is just plain wrong period.



-- Edited by Balko the wonder dog at 02:53, 2008-10-05
Wow, huge problems with word spacing and fonts changing. Apologies for the numerous edits...... We all have this problem I don't know why


-- Edited by Balko the wonder dog at 02:56, 2008-10-05

---

-- Edited by IHavehadenoughofhaters at 12:13, 2008-10-05

Balko ... I wrote the words that state "Great News" ... because to me it is great news ... you may not feel the same way ... but that's ok ... I may not feel that way if it were anyone else ... but here we have someone who denies the right to the freedom of speech to so many and he claims he has the right to say what he wants when he wants ... Well Pappa should afford others the same rights as he himself claims ..

Go to DD and disagree with them, although you can somewhat disagree now ... 2 years ago that was not the case. If I ... or the other original posters ... were afforded our freedom of speech ... well the PD would not exist ... so how can you claim to be protected under the 1st Amendment ... yet deny it to so many ... Freedom of speech is a convenience to him and nothing more.

If we were all allowed to say whatever we want, whenever we want ... about whomever we want ... there would be no slander or liable ... I do believe that another poster pointed this out .... anyway this is just my opinion ... I think it is great news ... you do not have to agree with me on this ... so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on this particular point of view.