Gillam v. Klein [1]

Tom Gillam, a Justice of the Peace in Texas, sued blogger and talkshow host Philip Klein for defamation stemming from statements Klein made on his blog, the Southeast Texas Political Review [2]. Gillam also sued Klein Investments Inc., Klein's company, Fox Radio 1340AM, which broadcasts a radio show for Klein, Ronnie Linden, Klein's radio co-host, and Mitch Woods, a local sheriff. Gillam sought damages as well as a temporary restraining order to preserve the original website content and recordings of the radio show co-hosted by Klein.

According to court filings [3], Gillam based his defamation claim on a purported statement by Klein that he engaged in an inappropriate sexual act with a woman at the Port Arthur courthouse. In a statement released by his attorneys and published by the Port Arthur News [4], Gillam also claims: “Klein further stated in the same article that an employee walked in on Judge Gillam during the alleged act, became upset and left the courthouse in a manner that caused a glass door to break. This story is patently false, malicious and defamatory.”

On June 10, 2008, Klein announced that the parties had settled the matter amicably. Klein stated that an investigation had cast doubt upon the allegations against Gillam and noted that he now believed Gillam was innocent. The Southeast Texas Record reports [5] that Gillam then dismissed the suit and that no money or other compensation was exchanged.