Mercy Hospital Anderson v. Selmeier [1] SummaryThreat Type: LawsuitDate: 01/01/2002Status: ConcludedDisposition: Injunction DeniedInjunction IssuedMaterial RemovedVerdict (plaintiff)Location: Ohio Verdict or Settlement Amount: $1,125,000.00Legal Claims: Defamation An Ohio hospital, a doctor, and a nurse sued Joel Selmeier for defamation after he created a website making allegations about how he was treated during a 1996 hernia operation. According to one press account, the plaintiffs obtained a court... read full description PartiesParty Receiving Legal Threat: Joel SelmeierType of Party: IndividualOrganizationType of Party: IndividualLocation of Party: OhioLocation of Party: OhioLegal Counsel: Sirkin, Pinales, Mezibov & Schwartz Description An Ohio hospital, a doctor, and a nurse sued Joel Selmeier for defamation after he created a website making allegations about how he was treated during a 1996 hernia operation. According to one press account [2], the plaintiffs obtained a court order sealing the case and requiring Selmeier to take down his site, but the court reversed itself a month later. According to the MLRC [3], the nurse's case went to trial and she won a $1,125,000 jury verdict -- $375,000 in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages. Related Links: The Augusta Chronicle: Man uses Web to 'get back' at hospital [2] MLRC: Lawsuits Against Bloggers [3] DetailsWeb Site(s) Involved: www.tripleouch.com [4] (defunct) Content Type: TextPublication Medium: WebsiteSubject Area: Defamation Court Information & DocumentsJurisdiction: OhioSource of Law: OhioCourt Name: Court of Common Pleas, Hamilton County, OhioCourt Type: StateCase Number: No. A02-08401 CMLP Information (Private)Threat Source: MLRCCMLP Notes: No pleadings available online; emailed Sirkin Pinales & Schwartz LLP (defendant's lawyer) on 8 July 2008; emailed defendant on 15 July 2008. No responses as of 28 July 2008.
