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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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7

Facebook 'Suck Sites' Have Their Day in Court

Defamation lawsuit against angry student may set a precedent

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(Newser) – A lawsuit filed by administrators at an Illinois beauty school may set a precedent regarding so-called “suck sites,” the Chicago Tribune reports. Nicholas Blacconiere, a student at the Salon Professional Academy of Elgin, welcomed classmates to criticize teachers on a Facebook page. After students posted accusations of teacher incompetence and promiscuity, administrators claimed emotional damage and filed suit for $50,000.

"Suck site" challenges have met with mixed success so far, and there hasn't yet been a landmark school-vs.-student online defamation case. One expert says that while students like Blacconiere should be allowed self-expression, there are limits: If they "get online and defame and destroy the reputation of someone else, or basically inflict severe emotional distress, yep, they can be held libel."

A Facebook login page is seen on a computer screen in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Thursday, August 27, 2009.
A Facebook login page is seen on a computer screen in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Thursday, August 27, 2009.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)
A Facebook user edits their privacy settings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, July 16, 2009.
A Facebook user edits their privacy settings in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Thursday, July 16, 2009.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
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When you're talking about either social networking sites or also the prevalence of something like live journals or blogs, there's definitely a lot of room for someone to get upset and sue. - Kimberly Isbell, Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University

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7 comments
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IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Sep 20, 09 2:36 PM CDT
Accusing someone of promiscuity is not a feeling, it is either an accurate description or slander. If it is slander then the target should be due damages. If a student went online and merely said that he "hated" a teacher, that would be a feeling and not be slanderous.
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Collusive
Sep 19, 09 3:31 PM CDT
Why don't we just ban lying and meanness? Reply
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Collusive
Sep 19, 09 4:16 PM CDT
one man's joke is another man's...
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IN RESPONSE:
Mad
Sep 19, 09 6:01 PM CDT
"Because one man's lie, is another man's truth" - sounds like Fox News' newest slogan
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+8
IN RESPONSE:
dontlikeyou
Sep 19, 09 8:53 PM CDT
@Mad.... your obsessed with Fox News. I suggest you seek help. Have a nice day.
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-3

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