But as far as law and the Internet are concerned, it is by no means unique. In the lawsuit, CHP officer Gregory Mason is suing a woman for libel over a Web site that the woman has constructed, in which she criticizes the officer and other law enforcement officials of rural Inyo County. But the defendant, Judy Komaromi of Fullerton, near Los Angeles, says that removing the Web site would violate her First Amendment rights. As recently as 15 years ago, such a lawsuit would have been unthinkable. In fact, they are already evident.
Internet law is a burgeoning portion of our profession.
Early last year, President Bill Clinton adviser Sidney Blumenthal sued 'cyberjournalist' Matt Drudge for libel, in connection with an online report of spousal abuse. A Washington, D.C., judge dismissed the charges. The Nuremberg Files,' a site run by Neal Horsely of Carrollton, Ga., featured Old West-style 'wanted' posters of doctors, including personal information. The Web site was back online in February. It has been revised, but now includes Web-cams set up outside abortion clinics.