Don't Date Him Girl! The Lawsuit…
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A short while back I posted an article referencing the pending lawsuit against a web site called "Don't Date Him Girl!".
Many consider the outcome of the lawsuit filed by Pittsburgh lawyer, Todd Hollis against Don't Date Him Girl! owner, Tasha Joseph and the women who posted comments about him, a victory.
Here is what happened…
(From the Associated Press and found on The Burgh Blog)
Judge R. Stanton Wettick Jr. ruled he has no jurisdiction over part of the lawsuit Todd Hollis filed last June against DontDateHimGirl.com and its creator, Tasha C. Cunningham, 34, of Miami.
Hollis, of Pittsburgh, claimed Cunningham’s site is liable because it solicits negative comments but does not screen them for truthfulness. Hollis also is also suing those who posted comments that questioned his sexuality and said he tried to dodge paying child support.
The judge let stand the attorney’s defamation claims against seven women who posted messages criticizing him on the site.
Cunningham and her attorneys say a 1996 federal law shields Web sites from such lawsuits.
Wettick did not address that issue. He simply ruled that Pennsylvania’s court system has no jurisdiction over a Florida Web site, even though Pennsylvanians post messages on it. The ruling, issued Thursday, does not address Hollis’ still-pending claims against women who posted the messages.
Hollis said he did not learn of the judge’s decision until The Associated Press called him for comment Tuesday. Hollis has not decided whether to sue the Web site again in another venue.
The way I see it…
This really cannot be considered a "victory" because the battle was never fought! The judge simply did not "address" the issue because it was filed in the wrong venue. Since DDHG resides in Florida, the lawsuit should have been filed in Florida and not in Pennsylvania.
Seems to me that if Mr. Hollis is as self assured, arrogant and angry as he appeared on the Dr. Phil Show, he will most certainly file a new lawsuit against DDHG in the Sunshine State!
My thoughts on this whole thing…
I stand by my original opinion of Don't Date Him Girl. It is a platform for the rantings and ravings of women at their worst. These women are hurting, angry and looking for revenge - with a capital "R"!
As one woman stated on Dr. Phil, she posted while she was angry. Had a "cooler head prevailed", she admitted she may not have posted at all, or at the very least, her post might not have been so "intense".
While I do believe in "freedom of speech" as Tasha is clearly defending, I also believe in the "right to privacy" and fair play. Obviously, one conflicts with the other in this case. I don't believe that anyone should be allowed to make allegations, true or false, publicly in anonymity. The accused has the right to know his accusor and be offered an equal path of recourse.
I think that both Todd Hollis and Tasha Joseph (Cunningham) have valid points to be argued.
Tasha, as I stated in my last article, has covered her butt very well legally. The DDHG "terms of use" squarely place the liability for slander on the shoulders of those posting to her site. I don't think for one second that Todd Hollis, even if he chooses to file his suit again in Florida, has a "snowball's chance in hell" of winning. Ms. Joseph is protected legally and cannot be held responsible for the rantings of angry women.
On behalf of Todd Hollis, I do believe that he has the right to privacy and an equal avenue of recourse against his accusers. Defamation of character can have devestating and widespread effects on a person and their family. Occassionally, good and undeserving people are intentionally hurt by false allegations fueled by hurt and anger.
Should his request to remove his profile have been granted? I think so. We have the legal right to opt out of other forms of harrassment in life. That's what restraining orders are for and to a lesser degree, the National Do Not Call Registry… 
The point is, as I have always believed, nothing in life is absolute! There are two sides to every story. Everything is not either black or white. There are always shades of grey that keep us uncertain and guessing!
This debate could continue until "hell froze over" with no resolution.
Are values, ethics and human rights being compromised?
Yup…everyday, all over the world. We are humans…it's what we do!
If you want to read more on this topic, you can hear from both Todd Hollis and Tasha Joseph on MNspeak.com. You can also check out the Online Dating Industry Journel.
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Opinions
feroze said:
a person married my sister 25 years back in 1982 in Pakistan. without having sexual relations upto six years. he slipped to usa and got married there. two chile borne to him and later on he divorced that woman. he neither divorced my sister nor called her in usa as his wife. he kept on making different statements. the prime time of life of my sister has gone waste. now she wants to file a legal suit against her cheater husband who lives in NY. kindly guide/help us.
GetOverIt said:
You're going to have to get over your "rights for privacy" because those so-called rights, disappeared with the invention of the Internet, digital recording devices, and camera phones. What rights do you think you’re really entitled to? What rights did you really think you had to begin with? I can tell you, not many, the Internet has just made accessibility to information easier and more convenient and the government has been tapping phone calls for decades.
The Internet is a forum for all and in the U.S. it is protected by freedom of speech, plain and simple. If someone logs onto a site and slanders another individual, the site owners are not liable; the company hosting the site is not liable. Hell he'd have just as much luck trying to sue the National Science Foundation and military, creators of the Internet, for allowing such a platform to exist for someone to expose whatever unbecoming behavior it was that led to an emotional outburst of the DDHG site. Furthermore, since the Internet is all about anonymity proving who said what, when, where, and why is a virtual impossibility. No one is going to invest the time to track down the IP address of the original poster and connect ISPs to find a subscriber over something so petty.
I hope this guy files in FL and doesn't see a dime, because he does not deserve any monetary compensation for his supposed "pain and suffering". I hope that DDHG sues him for wasting their time and I hope this guy has to pay whatever legal costs DDHG endures from some frivolousness.
I’m not advocating for or against DDHG, but I’ve seen the site and if someone posts about you, you do have a chance to rebuttal. And there is a site in progress called Don’t Date Her Man, I guess to even the score.
Jesika said:
I posted something on their website. My ex found out and turned me in for abuse. They froze my account and will not delete the poosting after i emailed 10 times for them to get rid of it. Yes I wrote the posting when i was hurt, angry, sad, I was a mess and i wanted him to hurt as much as I was. We are back together and this website is the only thing that is standing in our way of moving forward. Any suggestions on how to get this posting removed?????? I dont really have the money for an attorney but itf it comes down to it i wll have to do it but is asking them to remove a posting to much? They froze my account and left the posting! Crazy!!!
admin said:
Jesika, I really don't know what to tell you. I have heard of other people trying to have things removed from that site with no luck. That is why I encourage people to think before they post. It seems to me though, that if you and your partner are back together, this post should not keep you from moving forward in your relationship. You both know it is there. Chalk it up to a case of bad judgment on your part and leave it in the past. Wasting money on a lawyer for something that may not even be successful is such a waste. If your partner is mature, he should be able to leave this behind…everybody makes mistakes!
Lydia Bobo said:
It's obvious the person who wrote the top article is a guy. Guys seem to think that they can get away with being dishonest, manipulative jerks to women. Why is that-what's the deal with you people? I tend to think that that they assume that they're entitled to act like total bastards to women. Well you all are not! It seems that the American "penal" system is partially in favor of treating women like shit especially in other uch more extreme cases such as allowng rapists and child molestors to rome free and slither back under the rock from whence they came until they can stalk they're next prey. WELL YOU'RE NOT!! Certain women will not put up with this behavior-so put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Lydia Bobo said:
Oh spare me sweety. What ever happened to free speech. Your such a typical female being overly apologetic and being a psychological doormat. Get a back bone and stand up for yourself. It seems like these pigscan bithch and whine and the legal systm will just kiss their ass. Maybe if typical females like you will stop sending mixed signals the law and other sources will stop biting you in the ass.
Will said:
Sites like DontdatehimGirl and LiarsCheatsandBastards are a welcome fact in our debauched society. If you fear being posted then lead a clean life and respect your partner. Simple isn't it! Long live free speech.