Purcell v. Ewing [1]

Beginning in September 2006, Oliver Ewing allegedly posted several derogatory
comments about Milton Purcell using the alias “prosecute” on various forums, including PennLive.com [2], which focuses on civic and news information about the central Pennsylvania region, where Purcell lives.

According to filings in the case, the postings included a picture of Purcell and referred to him as a "pervert" and suggested that he had a "full time criminal defense attorney on his payroll," insinuating that Purcell was a criminal.

On September 4, 2007, Purcell sued [3] Ewing for defamation in the Court of Common Pleas of Pennsylvania, Dauphin County.  Shortly thereafter, Ewing successfully removed the case to federal court whereupon he filed a motion to dismiss [4], arguing that the postings were opinion and thus non-defamatory as a matter of law.

On May 22, 2008, the district court granted [5] Ewing's motion to dismiss.