WM3 suit against Dixie Chicks dismissed
arthurdent
Posts: 969
Dec 2, 12:28 PM EST
Defamation lawsuit against Dixie Chicks dismissed
BY JILL ZEMAN BLEED
Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against the Dixie Chicks by the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys killed in Arkansas 15 years ago.
Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of Stevie Branch, claimed that singer Natalie Maines accused him of being involved in the deaths of his stepson and the two other boys.
Hobbs cited a letter Maines posted on the Dixie Chicks' Web site and remarks she made at a rally in Little Rock in 2007.
Three teenagers who became known to sympathizers as the "West Memphis Three" were convicted in the deaths, but the Dixie Chicks and others claim they are innocent.
U.S. District Judge Brian Miller found Tuesday that Hobbs couldn't establish "actual malice" - that Maines knew the statements she made were false or that she made them with "reckless disregard" of the truth.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Defamation lawsuit against Dixie Chicks dismissed
BY JILL ZEMAN BLEED
Associated Press Writer
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A federal judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against the Dixie Chicks by the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys killed in Arkansas 15 years ago.
Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of Stevie Branch, claimed that singer Natalie Maines accused him of being involved in the deaths of his stepson and the two other boys.
Hobbs cited a letter Maines posted on the Dixie Chicks' Web site and remarks she made at a rally in Little Rock in 2007.
Three teenagers who became known to sympathizers as the "West Memphis Three" were convicted in the deaths, but the Dixie Chicks and others claim they are innocent.
U.S. District Judge Brian Miller found Tuesday that Hobbs couldn't establish "actual malice" - that Maines knew the statements she made were false or that she made them with "reckless disregard" of the truth.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
Rock me Jesus, roll me Lord...
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
Wash me in the blood of Rock & Roll
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
not quite. but when a cornerstone of your country's ideology is the value of free speech, you've got to be saying something pretty damn bad to be held financially accountable for it in a law suit.
Like that McCready killed a stripper at the Borgata after the show?
But seriously, how can the Enquirer be successfully sued for alleging a paternity (which they settled) but someone else in a public manner accused a supposedly innocent man of murder, and nothing happens. I don't get the distinction.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
The thing is... he DID sue and it DID go to the courts.
The courts ruled in Maines favor, citing "Hobbs couldn't establish "actual malice" - that Maines knew the statements she made were false or that she made them with "reckless disregard" of the truth."
Hobbs got his day in court... and lost.
Hail, Hail!!!