Legal Question in Criminal Law in Kentucky

Internet accusations

A friend of mine recently found himself in a jam concerning internet forums. In playing an innocent joke, he took on a screen name and email address very similar but not identical to those of a person who had been harrassing him on various forums on-line. With those new names he made a post on our forum as sort of mockery of this man who had been harrassing him. The post was never intended to be seen by the person who was the target of the joke, and my friend who posted was only trying to make light of this guy who kept publically attavking him on various forums. The posts were deleted by the webmaster soon after they were written. Now, this man who my friend was making fun of is claiming that my friend's actions are illegal and that he his going to pursue legal action for slander and identity theft. Are his accusations well-founded or his he just a nutcase looking for attention?


Asked on 10/24/02, 4:09 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Philip Owens Philip M. Owens, Attorney at Law

Re: Internet accusations

There is a possibility that a civil action may result here. Without knowing the circumstances, or the people involved, it is impossible to determine the probability of such an action and whether it could be successful. At this stage of threats, there is little that you can do. You cannot prevent a lawsuit unless an offer is made on that basis and an agreement is reached. If that doesn't happen, then you just have to wait until the suit is filed.

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Answered on 10/24/02, 6:23 pm


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