i wonder what part is 'obscene'? surely not the gay part? recent legal decisions in the States have held that being called gay is not defamatory. bratty and stupid teens and they should face some punishment, for sure, but the suit itself over-reaches in all the 'damage claims'. it seems ridiculous that the whole family “have had to change athletic clubs and coaches.” and before anyone says that i'm being insensitive, let me note that i was bullied all the way through grade school and high school, including being called the n-word, spit on and beat up, and oh yes, i was punished by teachers & school admin for complaining.
jon
· 2 months ago
They will present the 'obscene' material in court. It doesn't look like they are using being called gay as a singular count. One part of the suit focuses more on use of sexual statements, etc. as part of building a over all narrative. The thing is, if he was actually gay, depending on his state statues, it might be a hate crime.
This never will make up for or excuse people from being racist toward you. Hopefully the world is getting better.
I think this is important case. Cyber-bullying needs test cases, etc. If the defendants were adults or the plaintiff was a celebrity it should we might be viewing it differently. But minors (and heck, everyone) need to be protected from any type identify theft.
Beth
· 2 months ago
Did you miss the part where it says they wrote explicit sex acts in status messages?
Olly Newport
· 2 months ago
Just because homosexuality is accepted in society today doesn't mean its accepted by pug-faced-loud-mouthed-ham-for-a-brain twats in schools.
If you usher something that is remotely different, the group of people everybody has to like because otherwise they'll pick on you comes over and starts taking the piss out of anything, everything and always what you say.
Mia
· 2 months ago
If you put yourself in the head of a teenage boy and imagine all the things they can dream up...it shouldn't be too difficult to see how obscene they can get. They are intentionally destroying a person's reputation. I don't find it that difficult to believe that the boy had to change athletic clubs and coaches. Teenagers can be cruel. But I'm sure you know that all too well.
cfultz
· 2 months ago
Let start out by saying Im not calling you out. OK? Think about it, lets say you were in high school now, those kids that bullied you put a fake facebook profile up of you and made false allegations about you. The false allegations that these teens posted were pretty harsh considering the fact he's an athlete, which makes him well known in the community, so he probably started getting alot of weird looks and harsh words since he was an alleged racist homosexual. And to touch on your point about it being ridiculous for his whole family to "change athletic clubs and coaches", if you were alleged to be something you weren't and people believe it, your family would be talked about and question relentlessly.
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
while I pity you, these people's actions are absolutely inexcusable. This takes cyberbullying to the ultimate next level.
I don't know if you have thought of this, but this will NEVER go away for the victims. EVER. This will follow them around forever, potentially unless they change schools, but, even then, it's unlikely that this will go away.
MplsEric
· 2 months ago
Ummmm......yeah you said that already Tari....
kohl
· 2 months ago
They so deserve to be sued. It's indeed one wake up call for all the bullies out there. What I think Facebook should track down these kinds of accounts and suspend them immediately.
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
They should like, suspend their accounts, track them down, and beat them with a big tuna or something... o.O
cardcoin
· 2 months ago
Simply put, 4 kids make up a profile saying things about another person. It's not stupid, it's cold and calculated.
There could be a number of reasons why the mother would step in and cause this storm... Mainly the fact that she could have been adversely affected by the rumours that went around. Trust me, ANYTHING that is said in school can and will have a lasting effect outside of the school as well. and family WILL be affected. And what you will often find that if there is something to generate hate, such as being labelled as a 'gay' inside school, it will cause ripples that will affect you, and everyone around you. Either people will rally and crush the lies, or silently walk away. And in my own personal experience you'll find that most people will walk away and hide thinking that if they burry their heads then it will pass. Well here's a wake up call. IT WON'T.
The damage that has been done to this chap regardless of his sexual orientation is imense and the family will be affected as word about something that is strange will spread like wildfire. Fact of the matter is that this chap probably tried to burry his head in the sand and didn't see the water that would trap him there in this hole. With a little stirring and a few more things thrown in, it's often a recipe for either a complete change in personality or worse... suicide. This in itself is reason to cause despair within a family.
Another example of how things could/might turn out? Other families thinking that because this person is something 'bad' could influence our control over how we let our children interact with said person, or family. cause to tar one person with hatred is to tar a whole family with the same brush... espicially when that person is trying to do the same as the rest of us. and that would be to get on with our lives...
Don't get me wrong but isn't facebook only able to be controlled by just 1 account, and therefore how does 1 turn into 4? Thats one interesting question that jumps to my mind. Is it the fact that these 3 other people shared pictures and rude comments of this 'victim'?
There could be a number of different factors in this case, but as it is, It will be interesting to know the outcome of how this will turn out...
dvd rohlinge
· 2 months ago
It's not a Facebook term, but a legal one. Mon has to show that she has standing to sue (although "next" isn't usually used). Of course, the minor doesn't have capacity to sue.
By the way, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out who JOHN DOE is if one knows LAURA COOK.
Torinir
· 2 months ago
Standard IANAL disclaimer, but:
Parents/guardians/trustees have standing if the victim is a minor under their care. That's a virtual given. From the looks of this, the kid's still in high school and would most likely be a minor, giving his parents a right to represent his interests, assuming he lives at home with them.
Alexandra Popovic
· 2 months ago
Another example of cyber-bullying. Good on the mum for protecting her son and his reputation!
Kansas Lady
· 2 months ago
They deserve all that's heading their way. I loathe bullies.
Ray
· 2 months ago
you miss the point people. this dumb jock was probably a bully. and he's too big of a pussy to accept gay rumours so he'll sue to prove he's not a fag. I'll bet he deserves it! And now someone should make one for his worthless mother. I think this is hillarious!
thetruthhurts99
· 2 months ago
Ray is a douche. The mentality of someone who would assume the victim is a bully, a pussy and deserves thise insane harrassement without a shread of information of evidence to back this up is about as bright as these 4 teenage idiots. Grow up.
Jay
· 2 months ago
I going to go out on a limb and guess that you are the 'R.C. referred to in the article?
kalpal
· 2 months ago
The victim always deserves it if you are a sociopathic bully. I guess you must be one of those.
Mia
· 2 months ago
Tell me Ray...did your daddy touch you in bad places when you were little? Show me on the doll where daddy hurt you.
jeffreyrocket
· 2 months ago
Great lines Mia. Ray needs to step out of his ignorant bigot Armoire. I am sure he has plenty to tell his world.
Dominique Deshields
· 2 months ago
What are you? Twelve?
jeffgerard
· 2 months ago
Ray must be the parent of one of those boys who created the fake posts. He shows the same sense of decency and humanity. Please do America a favor, Ray, have a vasectomy.
Kmac
· 2 months ago
R.C. (the first one "named" in the suit)? Is that you? Come on, don't be shy!
mond
· 2 months ago
your a sad bugger ray, kansas lady doesn't get it, go find a mirror....
Name
· 2 months ago
You should know that the really tragic outcome of this type of bullying is very often suicide!
Elizabeth K. Barone
· 2 months ago
And sadly, many ignore it until it's too late.
just-a-guest
· 2 months ago
You people responding to Ray, are getting played like a piano, and it's almost as funny as Ray's comment.
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
So, they deserve THIS much defamation? Seriously? This will follow them around forever and ever.
While I applaud you for being bold in saying this, but, just no.
TariAkpodiete
· 2 months ago
once again, exactly what part was 'defamatory'? being called 'gay'? as i pointed out, several American jurisdictions have recently ruled that being called 'gay' is not defamatory. that doesn't mean that being harassed isn't upsetting, because of course it is. however, i've read the whole lawsuit and some of the claims for damages are just ridiculous. and also, why did the 'whole family' have to change sports clubs? seems like an over-reaction. or are they saying that people at their sports clubs harassed the whole family for what the idiot kids wrote on facebook? and will they sue them too?
Name
· 2 months ago
Ray, you have a big problem you might want to sit down and talk to your mother.
Nick
· 2 months ago
I totally agree with you. While some kids do things like this for "fun" and don't fully understand the impact their actions have, maintaining this level of harassment for so long (long enough to amass over 500 friends) goes beyond "hey dude, we were just kidding" and approaches sociopathic behavior. It's one thing to post a fake profile and write a status line saying "I'm gay!" It's a completely different thing to put as much effort as I'm guessing they have into embarrassing someone.
Olly Newport
· 2 months ago
Select teenagers today don't appear to have quite been able to grow up out of their 10 year old minds.
At the end of the day, these people are complete morons who you'll hope will be working at the next supermarket for the rest of their life's while everybody else tries their best.
sli
· 2 months ago
No, they grew out of their 10 year old minds just fine. They just grew into teenage minds.
saniiro
· 2 months ago
That is some intense stuff, I couldn't imagine the damage with just 140 of my friends I have, but 560? My heart goes out to the kid, he has the balls to take that kind of damage and still keep rolling, but wow, just wow, those kids were really out to get him...
jaspar
· 2 months ago
Woah...intense. Cyber bullying to the next level. They should be sued!
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
They ARE being sued...
jaspar
· 2 months ago
Obviously. I was agreeing.
evelyn
· 2 months ago
My 13 year-old daughter and her friend just started high school. Not even two days into the week, they were being bullied by people they didn't even know. They were called names, surrounded by five boys on a staircase and finally a girl pushed a boy into them at the top of the stairs and they all almost fell down the stairs. This went on for four weeks nonstop. It was so bad that I found out the girls had discussed suicide. The school tried to do what it could but there were so many kids that became involved it just escalated. Of course the girl that tried to knock them down the stairs got two days suspension! I said to the headmaster it wasn't going to send any message to them with that kind of punishment. Finally, the girl that instigated this who was jealous of my daughter was found out. The school did nothing but speak to her parents. I would like to sue them criminally and civilly. Perhaps there is a touch of discrimination here since I and the other mother come of modest means and the other girl is wealthy and has a 5 million dollar home with an elevator and indoor pool! Wonder if the school doesn't want to tangle with them. Any advice and who and where I could go to for help?
Denise
· 2 months ago
This is how I handled a bullying problem. I was not proud of what I had to do, but it worked and that was all I wanted. My son was in 3rd grade and a kid from 4th grade made his life miserable. I went to my kid's teacher and let her know there was a kid who was hitting my son everday. We identified the kid and the teacher brings the kid in and more or less told him not to do it again. The bullying continued. I went to the principal. His attitude was boys will be boys and he would speak to the kid. A week or so later, as I waited outside the school in my car for my son, as he was walking across the school yard towards me, I saw this bully kid come running up to him full speed and wham! right in my son's back. Of course my kid started to chase the kid to try and "get him back", but the kid was too fast. The next day I stood outside the school to pick my kid up. As we walked towards the car, I saw the bully kid. I called him over and told him that I had paid two fifth grade boys to watch my son's back, and that everytime he messed with my son, they were gonna mess with him, but worse! I had lied to the kid, but I was at my wits end. My son didn't want to go to school because of this kid. Well, it worked for us and that was all that mattered in my mind. That kid never approached my son again, so maybe you can take something from my experience and get a little creative on your own. Oh btw, my son graduated from high school this year with honors and is now a full-time college student. Best of luck to you and your child.
maestrala
· 2 months ago
I assume this happened in a private school ("headmaster"). Speaking from personal experience, I will confirm that private schools will always protect the wealthy parents, no matter how serious the transgressions of their kids against the kids of the unwealthy. Contact a Women's Legal Defense agency (such as the California Women's Defense League) - the sort of legal defense organization that normally serves battered wives and female victims of domestic violence. If the school accepts any state/federal funding or tax consideration at all, the agency may take your daughter on as a pro bono client in a suit against the school. If the school receives no state or federal funding or tax consideration, there may be nothing they can do to help you, other than offering free legal advice for a possible civil suit which you would have to pursue on your own. If you have no $$ resources for such a suit, it probably won't make sense for you to pursue it, since you'd bankrupt yourself with lawyer/legal fees before the school would run out of legal funds. (These schools always have Board members who are lawyers, for free legal representation.) Be sure to get your local police involved. My daughter experienced something similar, and as a single parent, I had no money to sue the school. Following the police's investigation, the bullying young man was charged with 60 counts of physical assault. He spent every Saturday morning of his 2 remaining high school years sitting with both parents in anger management training sessions at the police station....plus 100 hrs of community service.
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
This is exactly why I go to Catholic school, lol...
TariAkpodiete
· 2 months ago
what nonsense. i went to Catholic school run by nuns and that's where i got kicked, spit on, beat up and harassed. bullying happens in all schools at all levels, including 'good christian ones', and often the bullied kid gets punished by the administration for complaining.
neo
· 2 months ago
try the aclu..
J
· 2 months ago
Evelyn, if what you're saying is true, call attorneys and shop around--someone will want to take this case. You may have to pay a retainer, but that is negotiable.
Call your state's official bar (the government licensing office that every lawyer must be a member of to practice, etc.) for recommendations for attorneys practicing tort law and/or, specifically, education (or "school") law.
Good luck. As my tort law professor said, "Sue the bastards."
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
RE @TariAkpodiete (why can't I reply right! grr): That's definitely not how it works at my school...
Joseph
· 2 months ago
God, I don't want to sound harsh, but they have...for all practical purposes..unlimited resources. They can and will find a really bad lawyer or team who will drag your whole family through the mud...forgot to pay a bill..delinquent...yelled once and your child...child abuse...any enemies...they will appear to testify...any online comments you've made...you guessed it...those will get twisted around. I'd consider very carefully if a court case, should it get accepted, might not give them another opportunity to continue bullying your whole family on a much greater scale. You'd also be fighting multiple people.. I suggest walking away. This is a fight you cannot win. He said/she said thing. The facebook case is unique because there's computer evidence. If there were a dead body or a paralyzed child on a respirator, that might be a different story. Absent that...or a relative working in the DA's office or a famous uncle...
MplsEric
· 2 months ago
You "talked to the Headmaster" ? So it sounds like this is a private school..... My advice is to simply talk with your wallet and leave the school.....nothing spurs action from those in charge like hitting them in the bank account........
Elizabeth K. Barone
· 2 months ago
@Joseph (couldn't reply directly to your comment): It's an attitude like yours that only enables further bullying. If we continue to just "walk away," our children will continue to suffer. I'm probably heavily biased because I was badly bullied as a kid, but if my parents had chosen to "walk away," I would probably not speak to them to this very day. I am grateful every day that my parents took every step they could to protect me and keep me safe. I suffered from horrible depression years later because of the bullying I faced as a child. It is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something to "walk away" from.
@Evelyn: I would continue to push the headmaster for action on the bullies' behavior, and get in touch with the other parents to organize some kind of rally. One parent is easy for a headmaster to ignore; several are very difficult to ignore. Maybe these other parents are interested in suing, in which case you could all pool your resources. You don't have to be alone.
Even if you find that you can't sue (someone below gave some really good suggestions), you can do what someone else below said and pull your daughter out of the school. Personally I don't think that really solves anything, because if not your daughter, then someone else will be bullied, but if all else fails at least you know she will be safe.
I wish the best for you, your daughter, and your daughter's friend and her family.
Deb
· 2 months ago
I am so sorry to hear about the abuse and bullying your daughter and her friends went through. Some states have anti bullying laws for schools - not sure if all private schools must follow through by having a policy and steps for reporting and dealing with bullies. Perhaps filing a police report is an option you may consider; if the bullying continues a "paper trail" is available and the school will be on notice that you will protect your daughter. I am part of SafeWave an online safer site that helps stop cyber bullies and cyber predators. We hear from parents and students about physical, emotional and cyber bullying -a "boys will be boys" answer is never acceptable. Does your school have a written policy regarding bullying on campus and on the net?
Callmechaz
· 2 months ago
My dad taught me to walk away from confrontation IF it would end there. He also taught me, by example, to stand my ground when otherwise.
I can say with some confidence that at some point my father would have had a personal talk with the offender's parent(s). Assuming the other kid had a father, his dad would not want to see what the next step would have been. My parents were tough on me when I was wrong, but they stuck up for me when I was right. My father took time off from work to literally stand toe-to-toe with a private school coach that kicked me. He didn't go to the headmaster. He didn't call the cops. In fact, he went toe-to-toe with a cop that abused me for something I didn't do. My dad was a gentle man. When he was protecting me, you just knew it was time to pull in your horns. Both men backed away from him--he didn't budge. Both apologized to me.
Here we didn't walk away. He would not risk me being kicked again, or worse. He couldn't risk me losing respect for cops because of one bad egg. I now know when to walk away, and when to fight.
You have to protect your kids, no matter what it takes. You have to make them feel that even when they are 57 and you are gone, they are safe because you taught them when it makes sense to stand their ground. I stopped our local police chief from chastising my daughter even after he learned she walked away from a group of kids getting themselves into trouble, and then she called us. He thought about it, backed off, and praised her. She's 32 now. I hope she feels safe when she remembers that.
I'm not suggesting the exact same scenario needs to take place. But your kids need to know you will protect them whatever means it takes. In court or toe-to-toe, you don't walk away unless you know it will end there. Bullying usually doesn't end there.
edythemighty
· 2 months ago
Throw the (face)book at them!
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
That would hurt! How many servers does it take to run Facebook? Throw all of that at them?
Sounds like a plan!
Name
· 2 months ago
This is a civil matter not a criminal matter, ergo...no jail period.
Elizabeth K. Barone
· 2 months ago
It's a criminal matter, if only because it could be considered identity theft (displaying his number without permission, pretending to be him, etc.) Also, bullying is a criminal offense. By law, it is not allowed in schools (ie, The Zero Tolerance Act, or something like that). It's often heavily ignored and not properly put into place, but it does exist.
Mia
· 2 months ago
Throw them in juvie for a few months. Tough love is what these kids need.
jeffgerard
· 2 months ago
And then I'm sure those nice boys will learn all about gay sex after they're forcible sodomized a few hundred times. These boys are a product of their homes. Look past the boys and at the environment in which they were raised.
Brandon
· 2 months ago
Ok, you're right, it's not their fault because they grew up in a bad home.
Sue their parents? No.. sure the kids. They have to learn right from wrong sooner or later. Some people learn the hard way.
advocatus
· 2 months ago
That's brutal. But can't say I'm surprised.
Unionhawk
· 2 months ago
failure. They deserve every bit of it.
Now if only they would get rid of the "I will name my son batman if this gets 500000 fans" pages, or at least turn them into groups...
CarlaDelvex
· 2 months ago
When one kid does something dumb it's just something dumb...but when four of them act together that's complicity. This should be a wake up call for every bully Y-tard out there.
Tony
· 2 months ago
Man, that hurts. I would want to beat the crap outta those idiots, but that would be illegal. lol
Hanasmasya
· 2 months ago
Let we know the full name & their face : "R.C, A.G, K.Z, and M.S"
@CotHKSEO
· 2 months ago
Perhaps Facebook should consider implementing parental guidance, say, those under 18 must friend their parents? :P
Ryan Lalonde
· 2 months ago
That's a really stupid idea. No teenager wants their parents as a friend so they can see everything they do.
Yep, I'm a Mom
· 2 months ago
Nope, kids don't want their parents to see everything they do. But parents are responsible for everything their kids do (who do you think will on the hook for the legal bills the bullies are racking up?) and so Facebook should require parental consent and a parent friend.
Kera Torrence
· 2 months ago
That's absolutely ridiculous. People are stupid. D: And why the heck did they think they could do this in the first place? DX
Atheenastar
· 2 months ago
"....It's a lesson too late for the learning made of sand made of sand And in the wink of an eye my soul is turning in your hand in your hand..." Respect for others and Respect for everyone, should never be taken for granted.
Atheenastar
· 2 months ago
"...It's a lesson too late for the learning made of sand made of sand And in the wink of an eye my soul is turning in your hand in your hand..." Respect for others...Respect for everyone should never be taken for granted. Indeed a painful lesson for the 4 teens.
Name
· 2 months ago
Teens should be tried as adults and criminal records should be kept for life. I don't see why they should always get away with a slap on the wrist.
eman
· 2 months ago
Yeah, Adolph, you're right.
hindlist
· 2 months ago
It is a eyeopener for all thise who do strange things for nothing.
Walcrowe
· 2 months ago
This is the sad state of parenting these days... The kids knew what they were doing was wrong, and knew it would hurt the kid they going after... They should in turn be made to suffer as well... if that means being sued... then so be it.
Mia
· 2 months ago
Where the heck WERE the parents when this was happening? Apparently it was going on for a long time since the page amassed 580 friends. If those were my kids...they wouldn't be able to leave the house for days...I'd paddle all their a$$es hard, and after that, I'd let the victim's parents paddle their a$$es. They wouldn't be able to sit for a month. Then I'd take away their computer, their iPod, their cellphone, and all contact with the outside world. They wouldn't see the light of day until the court date, and I'd take away all their savings and give it to the kid's parents, being that he is quite likely going to need some counseling. Though I dare say I'd put my kids and myself through counseling, because I as a parent obviously failed these kids somewhere.
Vincent Somers
· 2 months ago
They're fucked but they deserve it..
SEOcopy
· 2 months ago
First thing I noticed after reading this post and all the comments is how "words" are still affecting people. Look I am not a teen but, when I was, hurtful things were said about me and I am sure about all of us at one point of our lives. The impact now with the Internet is far reaching no doubt.
Make no mistake about it if being "gay" is still a horrible thing then the problem is much deeper than just words. Being racist, in this country that's almost normal. I say this because I never understood or was ever exposed to racism until I moved to the US. That is not to say there isn't racism in Italy but, from what I saw it was more cultural and social than color. I am not saying the kids shouldn't be sued but, being sued doesn't resolve the problem it just adds more fuel and anger. Thanks for sharing your story.
deftninja
· 2 months ago
I don't think you really get it. It's one thing for people to talk about someone, It's a complete other to impersonate him and make it seem as if he is saying these things. If the kid being bullied had been an adult with a job he could lose his job because of these idiots actions. Plus the social implications are so far reaching at this point. So it's not the words affecting the people. How do you ever get a girlfriend when maybe 250 girls have read "your" stories of racism and homosexuality. While I agree with you words are just words the way that they were implemented in this story is quite destructive to anyone.
SEOcopy
· 2 months ago
I can see your point deftninja. Maybe I should have added my concern was with how much value we as a society put on things like "social media." For example in your statement "How do you ever get a girlfriend when maybe 250 girls have read "your" stories of racism and homosexuality. " Maybe I don't get it but, I wouldn't want to be with that girl/boy if they are going to believe complete strangers over me. Even if it is under my personal account. If she/he doesn't trust that those were not my posts then there is a trust issue.
That is not to say it doesn't happen I have heard of people loosing their jobs for posting a derogatory remark about their employer in FB or Twitter. How would I feel if I were the employer or how would I feel if I was the employee? All arguable from both perspectives. Since then one could argue who owns your time while posting on those sites if you are on the job. Or you could even argue the right to freedom of speech. Basically you could beat this topic to nauseum... In conclusion the actions taken were destructive yes, no question.
deftninja
· 2 months ago
True I see where you come from when you call it a trust issue. Also, I completely and whole heartedly agree that everyone takes social media way too seriously. Even when it is not being misused people put way too much stock into it. Back to the trust, assuming that A. you can identify all of the people who saw the post that "you" apparently made, and B. that those people will even allow you to contact them to tell them it is fake then you may be able to repair the damage. So I agree with your logic; I just assumed both A. and B. would not be fully possible when reaching my conclusion.
Mia
· 2 months ago
The problem I have with your argument is that the boys posted his real phone number and real name. They obviously intended to damage his reputation, and in the real world that is a crime. There is a fine line between having an opinion and slandering somebody. This should not be tolerated, period.
Trudy
· 2 months ago
True, in some cases people take social media too seriously, as in the case of people perceiving "friend" requests as automatic real friendships. But when someone is attacking a child, his reputation, his sexuality at a very formidable age (Erik Erikson's stage - Identity vs. Role Confusion), posting real contact information and photos, that is out of hand and they should be punished. People, especially adults should not read more into relationships than what may be there, but at the same time, social media reaches a wide audience at a rapid pace. Look at how two idiots posted a nasty video about Dominoes Pizza and the company took a major hit? The power of social media cannot be denied and when used for hatred, especially with youth, is unacceptable.
Ryan Willis
· 2 months ago
It's going to be interesting to watch this fly. There are no laws about online activity and I have yet to see something like this actually hold up in court. Even when 4chan pulled their stunts it didn't hold up. All I can say is good luck.
Matt F
· 2 months ago
You think there are no laws regarding online activity? Then you haven't been paying very close attention for the past thirty or so years, and your comment about "something like this" not holding up in court can be ignored.
You're wrong, plain and simple. This one is in the bag for the plaintiff.
Ryan Willis
· 2 months ago
Matt, I can say this due to the fact that i've done this kind of stuff before. I was worse. Guess what, they didn't do jack.
Then again...I was to good to be caught. So believe what you want. ;)
Name
· 2 months ago
ya sure you did buddy
Name
· 2 months ago
Your comments belie your lack of knowledge regarding commonly understood law.
The parents are suing for defamation, which typically requires that 1) a person has a good reputation and 2) acts were taken to deliberately harm said reputation.
Mia
· 2 months ago
Emails and interoffice memos are now considered evidence. How do you think the executives from Enron got into trouble?
Ryan Willis
· 2 months ago
Emails have NEVER been a secure method for communication first off so if anyone for a second thinks that this is new you are mistaken.
On a side note, I stated my point and have references to back it up. 4 chan if any of you have heard of it is a huge group of anonymous members so to speak. If they can do a bomb threat on a football game...a huge stadium and get away with it, what makes anyone believe that this is going to fly?
I understand there are online laws, so I stand corrected on that. HOWEVER, these laws are not prosecuted efficiently because of the fact that there is to much red tape. I took IT Security in college I know how this all works trust me.
Mike
· 2 months ago
I hope she wins millions for her son!!
Jason Moffatt
· 2 months ago
I once made a fake profile of Frank Kern at Myspace and was only going to befriend hunks with their shirts off. Would of been pretty funny but I got quickly bored and gave up. 500 friends? That's pretty ambitious bullying right there.
Alex
· 2 months ago
Really?
That's pretty pathetic.
Oh yeah, and the bullies are pretty sad, too.
Dominique Deshields
· 2 months ago
Wow, what rotten kids! Smack their parents upside head.
Tergiversator_Maximus
· 2 months ago
I wish him success. This needs to be a message to all others who would engage in this type of behavior.
Wynn
· 2 months ago
If these four are indeed guilty of these charges they should be held accountable. Actions have consequences.
Whoever did this, I have great sympathy for the victim and his family - and great respect for his mother!
Chris Voss
· 2 months ago
WOW people need to get some more common sense and follow the Golden rule. I'm so glad I'm not in school in this age.
Not a bad statement for relief. IIED is really hard to collect for. They will probably get defamation, but proving harm for emotional distress is tough.
s***
· 2 months ago
im a teen as well and i think this is the right thing to do because sme people do this for fun and it is not funny
OJ
· 2 months ago
they should serve some time to learn a hard lesson... I hate bullies.
Tom
· 2 months ago
It would seem to me that this type of harassment and defamation is criminal. Why aren't they being prosecuted?
Major
· 2 months ago
Oh, poor high school jock, mommy had to save him. Give me a break, this is just kids stuff, he needs to grow a set and get on with his life. If he can't handle this, he is going to have major problems in "real" life.
Nathan Nash
· 2 months ago
People like that should be sent to jail.
Baylink
· 2 months ago
I'll be much happier that they're being sued, than that his mom is cluttering caselaw by trying to have them criminally prosecuted, as in the Drew case, and screwing things up for The Rest Of Us.
Trudy
· 2 months ago
Good. I am disgusted by cyber bullying and it is not exclusively teens doing this either. Many adults do as well. I hope they get all that they deserve and that the mother is triumphant.
benjamin
· 2 months ago
Just some teens with to much time, and to little to do. nasty teens though
Rich Monk
· 2 months ago
Good, sue the shit out of their parents and the let the parents go broke for their brat children that they obviously do not pay enough attention to, or quite possibly set very poor examples for. Choice, consequence, and responsibility.
I think these kids should work in marketing)) I mean, they managed to make that much friends on the facebook just for a joke. Anyway, this is happening everywhere. The guy that suffered from their joke, should've just beat the shit out of those bastards. You may not agree with me on this but it is the best way to solve such problems. Cheers
sqeakyp
· 2 months ago
see only one side of story.. who's really a bully? corruption of media these days makes those look bad when there not. or good when they aren't.. nobody deserves to be sued.. how much money do they expect 4 teenagers to cough up? its ridiculous what people get sued over these days.. 7/10 cases ive heard of its usually the guilty that ends up suing, pulls the media to there favor.. in this case.. if its legit... some jail time for identity theft basically... (describing and using actual name and numbers is considered...) and anything beyond that would or could be a lie.. but who knows.. more or less who cares??
Skudd
· 2 months ago
Oh please. What a cry baby. This kind of thing has gone on in high schools and the victims are always poo-pood with "Oh, ignore them and they'll go away" or "what did you do to deserve that?"
Now that it's not the weak gay kid but the popular straight jock getting picked on and having untrue rumors, people are all a fluster.
And I guess silly lawsuits are he American way...
ricmarc
· 2 months ago
you seem to be under the impression that this type of behavior is acceptable. you must have been a bully.
Skudd
· 2 months ago
No, I was bullied pretty bad, actually, and since I was the little gay kid, everyone just rolled their eyes and called me a "little cry baby" or blamed the abuse on me. If this was a gay kid who'd been bullied like this, I'll tell you right now that most people would say he deserved it, invited it or "he should just laugh it off and ignore them and they'll go away."
Since it's the popular jock, everyone is calling for blood.
Typical.
Skudd
· 2 months ago
OK, the more I read the lawsuit itself, the more obvious it's the "Mommy!! Someone thinks I'm gay!!" lawsuit. This is just pathetic. All this "He's well respected and if people think he's one of THOSE... well.. they won't wanna play sports with him anymore.
Why not sue the coach for being a jerk to the athlete he thought was gay? Or... would you treat the gay kid the same way?
Bebe
· 2 months ago
I hope this family wins big $$$. Teach those bullies a lesson.
seeTrevor123
· 2 months ago
Racist and gay...hmm...racist is mentioned but it sure sounds like being accused of being gay is the real crime here because of course if your son is seen as gay then he cannot be athletic or play in organized sports (that's sarcasm btw). Perhaps I'm missing something but is sure sounds like gay and being a racists are not equal - gay is worse.
OK, not going on a rant here...what these boys did is reprehensible because it was intended to bully and humiliate a peer by any means necessary. It's just unfortunate that being accused of being gay continues to be so effective.
ricmarc
· 2 months ago
cha, ya know what? what they did is libel. they are going to pay. what they did is wrong. there is no excuse.
these people have NO defense.
Kittygranny
· 2 months ago
They will get away with it. Remember the mother who was instrumental to the suicide of a 13 year old former friend of her daughter? She did not have to pay for HER heinous act...
mlaiuppa
· 2 months ago
Not under a criminal trial. But I think I read that after the criminal trial she was being sued in civil court. Much like what happened with O.J. Who was found not guilty but was hardly innocent.
alan
· 2 months ago
It's funny how things have reversed since I was a kid. The jock being bullied by four nerds. I can't say I'll ever have any sympathy for jocks but as the saying goes, "two wrongs don't make a right."
gogol
· 2 months ago
I bet you like having sex with potatoes.
BrokerVic
· 2 months ago
While I sympathize with such victims, I don't see this as much different than the many kids who were bullied throughout my childhood. While I personally remained fairly low-key in high school, I certainly was witness to some pretty horrifying tormenting (albeit typical in most schools). That being said, everyone from 20 years ago (from both sides) I see now have all matured to pretty happy centered people.
Whether one is being bullied or is the bullier, at some point we have to rise above the inevitable immaturity that our childhood environment produces. Often it is that struggle that can force greater perspective and growth. Similarly, with different choices, that same struggle can produce a lifetime of unresolve and discontent.
However whether the bully is online or on the bus, the struggle to rise from it is not an issue of a new generation. Rather, it is merely a different manifestation of the same cycle involving human nature, childhood, and growth. This lawsuit is as absurd as if a mother were to file a lawsuit against "name-callers" on her child's school bus.
I think we would all agree the social implications of one's mother sticking up for her teenage son to other teenager boys has far more potential for future negative repercussions and humiliation.
While obviously laws are necessary to serve certain situations, I think it is important to note that there is a essential dichotomies created in a childhood environment whereby children have to be allowed to go through the pains and joys of youth so that the various opportunities for growth can be achieved.
jberg
· 2 months ago
Will this be a simple case of libel. Kids are just mean!
They should make a law that to get a social network account you have to provide ID
Sebastian
· 2 months ago
Why would being described as gay be considered "defamaton of character"? Wouldn't that imply that htere is something wrong with being homosexual?
mlaiuppa
· 2 months ago
That's not the point.
If he's NOT gay, then it's defamation because it's a lie.
DonJM
· 2 months ago
As a high school teacher for a number of years, let me suggest that you wait with your praise or condemnation until you hear BOTH sides of the story.
Dr. Melissa DeGeso
· 2 months ago
Hooray for social media! I say anytime bullies are held accountable it's a good thing. Now what would be even better is for a community of Facebook users to support and rally around this kid and his family. Way to go Mom!!!
mlaiuppa
· 2 months ago
Good. These cyberbullies need a slap upside the head. They need to be made blatant examples of to other teens. They're lucky they're not adults. It would be much worse for them if they were and they need to know that now. This is a wake up call to all children who think the internet is some sort of free for all playground where the law does not apply.
pete peterson
· 2 months ago
It happened to me in highschool. I was a sophomore, and one of the seniors who did not like me put up $100 to anyone who would beat me up badly (this was in 19979). A couple weeks went by where I would be thrown about in the hallways and threatened often... once with a gun. Fearing for my safety, I reported it to the dean of students. He called the boy in and told him that he would now be my protector. If anyone beat me up, he would be kicked off all team sports, he would have continued detention for the year, and that this incident would go on his transcript for any colleges that he tried to get into. Needless to say, the bullying stopped immediately and I was left alone. Make the guilty protect the child... or have the bully face having the things that he likes... taken away from him. It worked in my case.
Name
· 2 months ago
I had to deal with a bully in high school. The problem was addressed with the Principle and nothing was done to stop the bullying, the harassing notes put in my locker, the threats of violence that occurred everyday, the only way it ended was when I ended it. A bully will only pick on someone they know will not stand up for themselves, so after being knocked into my locker I turned around and broke the girl's jaw, the bullying stopped and it never happened again. I was not suspended nor was the other girl...we both were placed in what they call in-school-suspension. I was never bullied again and I don't regret what I did, I only wished I had done it sooner...
cheriana
· 2 months ago
A lot of fake fb profiles were created at my college for different purposes, but they were mainly just to poke fun at a close friend and post random funny quotes. This story takes it above and beyond.
Elizabeth K. Barone
· 2 months ago
It angers me that kids get away with stuff like this all the time. I hope the victim and his family win, and I hope these little jerks (big understatement) get punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I was bullied as a kid, and I wish that the bullies could have the tables turned on them to see how it feels.
My heart goes out to John Doe. I'm sorry that you had to go through such a disgusting ordeal, but you are strong and you will come out of this better than the idiots (again, understatement) who did this to you.
Deb
· 2 months ago
A fake facebook page will be on the internet for ever to be found by colleges and employers, while facebook will take it down it can not really be removed, people have already viewed it and most likely sent it on to others. There will be more lawsuits and schools are finding out that if policies are not followed they will be included in lawsuits. Neither the victim or the bully is helped by ignoring the problem. The stastics on bullying are alarming 160,000 kids miss school every day due to bullying, a high percentage of bullies continue into adulthood bullying in the workplace.
Seattle_Jeff
· 2 months ago
If I was in this kids position, I'd higher someone to take these damn bullies out, one by one. Scare tactics.
Arron Davies
· 2 months ago
stupid kids, i hope they get a very heavy book thrown at them. some guy before made a hate site about me before, and he didn't even know me, passed himself off as a web designer, i think it was because i was local designer and he thought it would look good if he put me down like that. his site doesn't show anything offensive to me no longer but just goes to show any one can be kiddish even in profession :)
Name
· 2 months ago
I was a victim of a hacker who got into my account and pretending to be me wrote some pretty horrible things on my wall. He/she also wrote to my friends, changed my photos, wrote threatening letters for me to find and then lastly, deleting all my friends lists. Has this happened to anyone else? Surely there would be a way of detecting who it was?
I live in the same town as the people involved in the lawsuit and I have two kids who are both on Facebook. I think it's important that teens realize that what they do on Facebook IS seen by adults - by parents, by teachers, by coaches - and has consequences in the real world. For more on this topic, see my article "Peek-a-Boo Facebook kids, we see you" at www.trueslant.com/marjiekilleen
Trey - Swollen Thumb
· 1 month ago
Haven't you heard? It's perfectly legal to get online and misrepresent yourself, and purposely cause emotional distress to other people. Lori Drew got away with it.
Nick
· 1 month ago
Perhaps so, but Nancy Drew was foiled by those meddling kids.
Name
· 1 month ago
Goes to show you how horrible humans are.
Name
· 1 month ago
evelyn, I just want to say that that's disgusting and im afraid I wouldnt handle that properly if I were in your shoes I would probably find those people at the school have my kids point them out and beat the living shit out of them but obviously that's the illegal way to go about it. It would def feel good though. As for who to talk to dont know I would think laywer but hey im sure you've tried that? All I can say is people that enjoy treating people like that are not only lower than dirt possibly will end up burning in hell for eternity if they continue down that path of torture it only gets worse.
All Comments
This never will make up for or excuse people from being racist toward you. Hopefully the world is getting better.
I think this is important case. Cyber-bullying needs test cases, etc. If the defendants were adults or the plaintiff was a celebrity it should we might be viewing it differently. But minors (and heck, everyone) need to be protected from any type identify theft.
If you usher something that is remotely different, the group of people everybody has to like because otherwise they'll pick on you comes over and starts taking the piss out of anything, everything and always what you say.
I don't know if you have thought of this, but this will NEVER go away for the victims. EVER. This will follow them around forever, potentially unless they change schools, but, even then, it's unlikely that this will go away.
There could be a number of reasons why the mother would step in and cause this storm... Mainly the fact that she could have been adversely affected by the rumours that went around. Trust me, ANYTHING that is said in school can and will have a lasting effect outside of the school as well. and family WILL be affected. And what you will often find that if there is something to generate hate, such as being labelled as a 'gay' inside school, it will cause ripples that will affect you, and everyone around you. Either people will rally and crush the lies, or silently walk away. And in my own personal experience you'll find that most people will walk away and hide thinking that if they burry their heads then it will pass. Well here's a wake up call. IT WON'T.
The damage that has been done to this chap regardless of his sexual orientation is imense and the family will be affected as word about something that is strange will spread like wildfire. Fact of the matter is that this chap probably tried to burry his head in the sand and didn't see the water that would trap him there in this hole. With a little stirring and a few more things thrown in, it's often a recipe for either a complete change in personality or worse... suicide. This in itself is reason to cause despair within a family.
Another example of how things could/might turn out? Other families thinking that because this person is something 'bad' could influence our control over how we let our children interact with said person, or family. cause to tar one person with hatred is to tar a whole family with the same brush... espicially when that person is trying to do the same as the rest of us. and that would be to get on with our lives...
Don't get me wrong but isn't facebook only able to be controlled by just 1 account, and therefore how does 1 turn into 4? Thats one interesting question that jumps to my mind. Is it the fact that these 3 other people shared pictures and rude comments of this 'victim'?
There could be a number of different factors in this case, but as it is, It will be interesting to know the outcome of how this will turn out...
By the way, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out who JOHN DOE is if one knows LAURA COOK.
Parents/guardians/trustees have standing if the victim is a minor under their care. That's a virtual given. From the looks of this, the kid's still in high school and would most likely be a minor, giving his parents a right to represent his interests, assuming he lives at home with them.
I'll bet he deserves it! And now someone should make one for his worthless mother.
I think this is hillarious!
While I applaud you for being bold in saying this, but, just no.
At the end of the day, these people are complete morons who you'll hope will be working at the next supermarket for the rest of their life's while everybody else tries their best.
Call your state's official bar (the government licensing office that every lawyer must be a member of to practice, etc.) for recommendations for attorneys practicing tort law and/or, specifically, education (or "school") law.
Good luck. As my tort law professor said, "Sue the bastards."
I suggest walking away. This is a fight you cannot win. He said/she said thing. The facebook case is unique because there's computer evidence. If there were a dead body or a paralyzed child on a respirator, that might be a different story. Absent that...or a relative working in the DA's office or a famous uncle...
@Evelyn: I would continue to push the headmaster for action on the bullies' behavior, and get in touch with the other parents to organize some kind of rally. One parent is easy for a headmaster to ignore; several are very difficult to ignore. Maybe these other parents are interested in suing, in which case you could all pool your resources. You don't have to be alone.
Even if you find that you can't sue (someone below gave some really good suggestions), you can do what someone else below said and pull your daughter out of the school. Personally I don't think that really solves anything, because if not your daughter, then someone else will be bullied, but if all else fails at least you know she will be safe.
I wish the best for you, your daughter, and your daughter's friend and her family.
I can say with some confidence that at some point my father would have had a personal talk with the offender's parent(s). Assuming the other kid had a father, his dad would not want to see what the next step would have been. My parents were tough on me when I was wrong, but they stuck up for me when I was right. My father took time off from work to literally stand toe-to-toe with a private school coach that kicked me. He didn't go to the headmaster. He didn't call the cops. In fact, he went toe-to-toe with a cop that abused me for something I didn't do. My dad was a gentle man. When he was protecting me, you just knew it was time to pull in your horns. Both men backed away from him--he didn't budge. Both apologized to me.
Here we didn't walk away. He would not risk me being kicked again, or worse. He couldn't risk me losing respect for cops because of one bad egg. I now know when to walk away, and when to fight.
You have to protect your kids, no matter what it takes. You have to make them feel that even when they are 57 and you are gone, they are safe because you taught them when it makes sense to stand their ground. I stopped our local police chief from chastising my daughter even after he learned she walked away from a group of kids getting themselves into trouble, and then she called us. He thought about it, backed off, and praised her. She's 32 now. I hope she feels safe when she remembers that.
I'm not suggesting the exact same scenario needs to take place. But your kids need to know you will protect them whatever means it takes. In court or toe-to-toe, you don't walk away unless you know it will end there. Bullying usually doesn't end there.
Sounds like a plan!
Sue their parents? No.. sure the kids. They have to learn right from wrong sooner or later. Some people learn the hard way.
But can't say I'm surprised.
Now if only they would get rid of the "I will name my son batman if this gets 500000 fans" pages, or at least turn them into groups...
No teenager wants their parents as a friend so they can see everything they do.
And in the wink of an eye my soul is turning in your hand in your hand..." Respect for others and Respect for everyone, should never be taken for granted.
And in the wink of an eye my soul is turning in your hand in your hand..." Respect for others...Respect for everyone should never be taken for granted. Indeed a painful lesson for the 4 teens.
Make no mistake about it if being "gay" is still a horrible thing then the problem is much deeper than just words. Being racist, in this country that's almost normal. I say this because I never understood or was ever exposed to racism until I moved to the US. That is not to say there isn't racism in Italy but, from what I saw it was more cultural and social than color. I am not saying the kids shouldn't be sued but, being sued doesn't resolve the problem it just adds more fuel and anger. Thanks for sharing your story.
That is not to say it doesn't happen I have heard of people loosing their jobs for posting a derogatory remark about their employer in FB or Twitter. How would I feel if I were the employer or how would I feel if I was the employee? All arguable from both perspectives. Since then one could argue who owns your time while posting on those sites if you are on the job. Or you could even argue the right to freedom of speech. Basically you could beat this topic to nauseum... In conclusion the actions taken were destructive yes, no question.
You're wrong, plain and simple. This one is in the bag for the plaintiff.
Then again...I was to good to be caught. So believe what you want. ;)
The parents are suing for defamation, which typically requires that 1) a person has a good reputation and 2) acts were taken to deliberately harm said reputation.
On a side note, I stated my point and have references to back it up. 4 chan if any of you have heard of it is a huge group of anonymous members so to speak. If they can do a bomb threat on a football game...a huge stadium and get away with it, what makes anyone believe that this is going to fly?
I understand there are online laws, so I stand corrected on that. HOWEVER, these laws are not prosecuted efficiently because of the fact that there is to much red tape. I took IT Security in college I know how this all works trust me.
That's pretty pathetic.
Oh yeah, and the bullies are pretty sad, too.
Whoever did this, I have great sympathy for the victim and his family - and great respect for his mother!
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nobody deserves to be sued.. how much money do they expect 4 teenagers to cough up? its ridiculous what people get sued over these days.. 7/10 cases ive heard of its usually the guilty that ends up suing, pulls the media to there favor.. in this case.. if its legit... some jail time for identity theft basically... (describing and using actual name and numbers is considered...) and anything beyond that would or could be a lie.. but who knows.. more or less who cares??
Now that it's not the weak gay kid but the popular straight jock getting picked on and having untrue rumors, people are all a fluster.
And I guess silly lawsuits are he American way...
Since it's the popular jock, everyone is calling for blood.
Typical.
Why not sue the coach for being a jerk to the athlete he thought was gay? Or... would you treat the gay kid the same way?
OK, not going on a rant here...what these boys did is reprehensible because it was intended to bully and humiliate a peer by any means necessary. It's just unfortunate that being accused of being gay continues to be so effective.
these people have NO defense.
Remember the mother who was instrumental to the suicide of a 13 year old former friend of her daughter? She did not have to pay for HER heinous act...
Whether one is being bullied or is the bullier, at some point we have to rise above the inevitable immaturity that our childhood environment produces. Often it is that struggle that can force greater perspective and growth. Similarly, with different choices, that same struggle can produce a lifetime of unresolve and discontent.
However whether the bully is online or on the bus, the struggle to rise from it is not an issue of a new generation. Rather, it is merely a different manifestation of the same cycle involving human nature, childhood, and growth. This lawsuit is as absurd as if a mother were to file a lawsuit against "name-callers" on her child's school bus.
I think we would all agree the social implications of one's mother sticking up for her teenage son to other teenager boys has far more potential for future negative repercussions and humiliation.
While obviously laws are necessary to serve certain situations, I think it is important to note that there is a essential dichotomies created in a childhood environment whereby children have to be allowed to go through the pains and joys of youth so that the various opportunities for growth can be achieved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlRQYFsMg6s
If he's NOT gay, then it's defamation because it's a lie.
I was bullied as a kid, and I wish that the bullies could have the tables turned on them to see how it feels.
My heart goes out to John Doe. I'm sorry that you had to go through such a disgusting ordeal, but you are strong and you will come out of this better than the idiots (again, understatement) who did this to you.
The stastics on bullying are alarming 160,000 kids miss school every day due to bullying, a high percentage of bullies continue into adulthood bullying in the workplace.
Has this happened to anyone else? Surely there would be a way of detecting who it was?
http://www.seodoom.info/2009/09/start-your-seo-...