A Kootenai County woman who says she was defamed by an anonymous commenter on a site managed by the Spokesman-Review can force the paper to help in identifying that person, says a story in the Coeur d'Alene Press. The ruling came from John Luster, a district court judge in north Idaho.
Tina Jacobson says she wants the name of the commenter and two witnesses because, she says, they suggested she stole $10,000 from the Republican Party. The newspaper removed the reference to the $10,000 after more than two hours of visibility on the site. Jacobson says she needs the names to help clear her of any wrongdoing.
The newspaper has 14 days to appeal the judge's ruling.
