Wednesday, June 27, 2012
© Copyright 2013
Rockdale Citizen
COVINGTON -- Stephanie Lindsey, attorney for the Alcovy High School principal who has brought a defamation lawsuit against web posters, is attempting to request information from them.
Lindsey posted two comments on the Newton Citizen website this week notifying bloggers that she was seeking information for the civil case filed by Principal LaQuanda Carpenter, who is claiming the web posters libeled her with their comments.
On Monday, Lindsey commented on the article "Judge orders Lindsey to notify web posters" with a notice to web users MsLoy, bluedeyeddevil, amp72, newtoncountyparent, watermelonlover, beautifulblueeyes, Satan69 and KBeet.
The notice reads that by order of Newton County Superior Court, they have been named as a party of the civil action "LaQuanda Carpenter v. John Doe 1 aka 'MsLoy,' et al." in civil action number 2012-895-1.
During a motions hearing earlier this month, Judge Eugene Benton ordered Lindsey to attempt to notify the anonymous posters as well as depose them and other witnesses before attempting to request identifying information from the newspaper.
The judge said that proper notification had not been given to the web posters identified in the suit, although Lindsey claimed that they were provided notification since the Citizen wrote articles about the case and the web posters made comments on the articles.
Benton ordered Lindsey to notify the anonymous posters, informing them that they have the right to be represented or anonymously represented. They must be informed of the hearing date and have time to object; Benton felt that 30 days was enough notice to give them.
Additionally, Lindsey states in her notice that she and her client are seeking all information and documents sufficient to identify the names, addresses and telephone numbers associated with those named in the lawsuit, as well as documents reproducing the texts of the comments from Jan. 1, 2011, to present and all server logs, IP address logs, account information, account access records and application or registration forms related to those named. This is the same information that Lindsey sought in a subpoena of the Newton Citizen.
Lindsey made another comment Tuesday, after waiting for the moderator to approve the first notice, she said.
The second notice said a hearing will be set to further address the motion to quash a subpoena served on the Citizen requesting identifying information of the web users.
She notes that she will publish the date of the hearing on the Citizen's comment board.
Lindsey also notified the posters that they have a right to hire an attorney to represent them, and he could represent them without their identity being disclosed.
She went on to say that depositions of Newton County School System Superintendent Gary Mathews, web commenter Shannon Black and Newton County Board of Education members Almond Turner, Shakila Henderson-Baker, Abigail Coggin and Eddie Johnson will be taken. She states that web posters who choose to hire an attorney can be present at all of the depositions, which will be conducted before the motion hearing date.
"Again, his or her presence at the depositions will not jeopardize your anonymity," she states.
She did not provide a date for the depositions.
More like this story
- Carpenter asks for anonymous commenters to be dismissed from suit ( August 11, 2012 )
- Carpenter asks for anonymous bloggers to be dismissed from suit ( August 10, 2012 )
- Attorney says motion to stop subpoena should be denied ( June 7, 2012 )
- Judge orders Lindsey to notify web posters ( June 19, 2012 )
- Lindsey sends former AHS employee cease and desist notice ( June 30, 2012 )
Comments
JoshB 11 months ago
If anyone thinks that can post 'anonymously' please contact me. I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.
johndoemo_ 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Stephanie Lindsey is running for a judgeship in Covington. She is also listed as a member of New Rock Legal society according their web site. The president of New Rock is Phinia Aten who is running for magistrate judge in Conyers. Caycie Dix is vice president of New Rock and is running for Probate judge in Conyers. It looks like they want to establish their own version of a good ol boy network.This looks to me like they are definitely making a power grab of some sort. I wish the Rockdale or Newton Citizen could get a quote from Ms Aten regarding her position and the position of New Rock on the Laquanda carpenter lawsuit. I would like to know if they think it is OK to take legal action against community members who express their opinions in the paper. Where would they draw the line between expressing an opinion and libel?
Frustrated 10 months, 4 weeks ago
I commented on this a while back when every one was announcing for office. It goes further than this though. If I am correct I think the two candidates running for Superior Judge in Rockdale are also members of New Rock. They want to take control of the entire judicial system in Rockdale.
INJUSTICE_FOR_ALL 10 months, 4 weeks ago
This is such bull smit. POOR THING.
Zo 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Attorney Lindsey, Please do the same post for the Rockdale Citizen. The same virtual hood people hang out in both the Rockdale & Newton Citizen. I'm so glad you have taken a fight to these folks who hide behind these fake names making racial, baseless, & bias statements. Whatcha going to do virtual hood crew Lindsey is looking for you?
mgh1966 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Zo what do you mean by virtual hood thats like hate speach isnt
marty 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Laquanda needs to go !
mrbill 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Posting a comment on a news story blog is not the same as taking out a legal service by publication ad. I followed the Citizen's links and it is not there. Classifieds>Legal Ad>Service by Publication. Due diligence by the plantiff's attorney is astonishingly missing in this case. A comment blog is hardly legal notification.
Reminds me of ten year olds drawing lines in a sandbox. Then daring each other to cross the line. Very mature.
Frustrated 10 months, 4 weeks ago
Zo I only wish you knew as much as you think you do
INJUSTICE_FOR_ALL 10 months, 4 weeks ago
NO ONE IS HIDING, black girl got her feelings hurt, TRUTH HURTS.
mgh1966 10 months, 4 weeks ago
You know I finshed with this. Its like chasing a Fart in the wind. Lets open a Charter High School and be done with it.
Zo 10 months, 4 weeks ago
@Careful if we get one more to argree with our perspective then we'll be considered a group trying to take over the paper. Lol, Listen, I understand some folks don't like the advancement of other people, especially Blacks, however making racial, baseless, hateful, etc speech against someone with no merit is a BIG NO NO. So accept the rules & keep it moving. Complain all you want, but in a civil manner.
mgh1966 10 months, 4 weeks ago
so stop, doing two wrongs do not make a right. Make point, my point is the test scores and the leadership of all of NCSS not just one person. And they all need to go. Because children of all Colors are being left behind. That is what is wrong, some have other problems with a person I have a problem with people who put them selfs first and the children last. As a parent that is what I have seen this year and shame on all of them. NCSS leadership does not respect the Children or there Parents that has been made clear to me by thier actions this year not by thier words.That is why I am voting for the new Charter bill. and i am not voting for the boe chair. but I will vote for the top law man in the county why he is doing a good job. Stop drinking the R's and D's Kool aid.
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