Can someone be sued for an internet posting?

[joe_legal]

What is the name of your state? New York

Let's say someone makes an internet posting, and it's impossible to tell who made the posting. The best they can tell is what location the posting was made from, but the poster doesn't live anywhere near that location. Let's say the people being attacked in the posting have a very good idea who made the posting, they just have 0 proof. Can they keep suing the suspected individual, over and over again, forcing them to hire a lawyer to defend themselves, until the individual runs out of money? Or can they be countersued for abuse of process?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Let's say yes.

 

[joe_legal]

So a rich person can pick any random middle class person and keep suing them over and over again, until they are financially ruined?

 

[racer72]

Can they keep suing the suspected individual, over and over again, forcing them to hire a lawyer to defend themselves, until the individual runs out of money?

Or the DA will bring criminal charges for harrassment and abuse of process, forcing those that did the suing to hire attorneys while facing possible jail time and fines.

 

[Quaere]

Let's say someone makes an internet posting, and it's impossible to tell who made the posting. The best they can tell is what location the posting was made from, but the poster doesn't live anywhere near that location.

There are ways of tracking users.

Let's say the people being attacked in the posting have a very good idea who made the posting, they just have 0 proof.

The burden of proof in civil court is only 51%.

Can they keep suing the suspected individual, over and over again, forcing them to hire a lawyer to defend themselves, until the individual runs out of money?

See FRCP Rule 11 for a good explanation of the filing parties responsibilities.

 

[cbg]

Did you think the answer was going to change in two weeks, joe?

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?t=330125