Zoeller v. Josef Silny & Associates [1]

Professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller claimed that someone posted false statements about him on Wikipedia. Zoeller traced the IP address of the unknown author of the statements to a computer at Josef Silny & Associates, a Miami education consulting firm. Zoeller sued the firm for defamation, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He filed the suit anonymously, but media outlets quickly discovered his identity. In the complaint, Zoeller alleged that the Wikipedia entry falsely stated that he had abused drugs and alcohol and mistreated his family.

According to USA Today [2], the paragraph in question was removed, but the information had been picked up by other websites. The lawsuit said it falsely alleged that Zoeller abused drugs, alcohol and his family.

Zoeller failed to trace the IP address to one specific person, and Josef Silny & Associates repeatedly denied that any of its employees had authored the statements. Several months after filing, Zoeller voluntarily withrew the lawsuit.

Zoeller did not pursue a claim against Wikipedia, and statements from his lawyer to the press indicate a belief that section 230 of the Communications Decency Act [3] barred a lawsuit directly against the online encyclopedia.