From the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (7/1/10): A North Carolina judge has ordered an online-news editor to produce the names of six anonymous posters who allegedly posted defamatory comments on his website, although one of them identified himself this morning on a local AM radio station.
Former Vance County commissioner Thomas S. Hester Jr. subpoenaed “Home in Henderson” editor Jason A. Feingold demanding the identities of individuals who posted allegedly defamatory statements under monikers such as “Fatboy” and “Confused.”
The dispute began when Feingold reported that eight people occupying a local house owned by Hester included elderly individuals living in squalor. A tenant of Hester’s had apparently sublet the premises without his knowledge, but the blog comments speculated as to the degree of his culpability and were highly critical of Hester’s involvement.
Superior Court Judge Howard Manning on June 28 found in favor of Hester, who is up for re-election as a Vance County commission member. This morning, one of the commenters, Robert D. Gupton, who posted as “Point Keeper,” identified himself on the Henderson, N.C., radio show.