I have been following this from the start...and I am glad to see this happen. It is deep down, a case against a couple of "good Democrats" who seek to help those who don't have help anywhere else. These people have had the MOST vile attacks on their character from "anonymous" posters that I have ever seen.
I thoroughly believe in the First Amendment and defend everyone's right to say what they want...but I also thoroughly believe that the ones that say it are responsible for the havoc they wreak and should pay part and parcel for the damages they cause. This couple has had to pay over a half of million dollars to keep themselves out of prison for what amounted to false allegations to satisfy a vendetta by the "anonymous posters". I hope this vermin ROTS in prison and lose every asset they own. Oh--the woman named in the defamation lawsuit? Perjured herself (proven) MANY times in the trial. No charges have been filed against her. You can read her testimony for yourself and THIS is what landed two law abiding citizens in a legal fight for their life.
http://rrpolitics.org/Mark%20and%20Rhonda%20Lesher/Shanon%20Coyle%20Testamony.pdf http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Story?id=8239410&page=1>>>snip
A Texas couple who filed a defamation lawsuit five months ago against anonymous posters on the Internet forum Topix say they have unmasked people behind some of the offending posts.
Following a trail of digital bread crumbs, Mark and Rhonda Lesher of Clarksville, Texas, say they have confirmed suspicions they've harbored since the day they began their legal crusade.
Information disclosed by Topix, including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, or the unique number assigned to each computer, led the couple to a business owned by the husband of a woman who last year accused the couple of sexual assault.