Anti-Defamation
It’s more important than ever to teach kids how to stop a bully
bully
With public displays of hate on the rise, it is more important than ever for schools to commit to programs that clearly define expectations in behavior for all members of the community.
Whether you are a student, educator or family member, you have a role to play in combating bias and bullying as a means to stop the escalation of hate.
At the Anti-Defamation League, we are actively taking measures to change this narrative because we believe bullying is preventable and ultimately end-able.
Through our anti-bias, anti-bullying program, both students and teachers learn how to recognize bullying at school.
Confront bullying behavior and become allies to those who are being bullied.
We know that hate is on the rise. Just last year ADL measured a 57 percent increase in anti-Semitism in the United States.
In our own community we’ve seen increased white nationalism on our college campuses.
Our K-12 schools are microcosms of our greater community, and we know that these spikes are also happening on their campuses.
Former Quinn group sues one of its managers for defamation
Former Quinn group sues one of its managers for defamation
Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) has stepped up its pursuit of those whom it accuses of defaming it online. By filing legal action against one of its own senior managers and his wife. One of the most vociferous public supporters of former owner Seán Quinn.
The company filed the High Court actions on Monday against Co Leitrimwoman Patricia Gilheany and her husband, Gearoid Gilheany.
Who is the transport manager of Quinn Building Products, QIH’s trading name.
It is understood that the case against Mr Gilheany has arisen from a separate.
Earlier case against Facebook. When QIH took action to try and force the social networking site; to reveal the identities of people who had anonymously posted online comments about the company and its top executives.
The defamation action against the Gilheanys comes just days after QIH launched a similar legal action against Fermanagh farmer Enda Corrigan.
QIH,
which has been criticised by Mr Quinn, who wants to regain control of his former empire.
Recently complained of a resurgence of negativity and misinformation against the company online.
It has also warned staff of a resumption of false allegations and intimidation against its executives by anonymous people.
Those people are purporting to be acting in support of Mr Quinn, who has previously denounced any intimidation.
The action against the Gilheanys was filed on Monday by QIH and its chief executive.
One-time Quinn confidante Liam McCaffrey, its chief operating officer, Kevin Lunney, and its financial director, Dara O’Reilly.
Patricia Gilheany has been a staunch public defender of Mr Quinn’s for the last seven years, as he battled to keep his various businesses together before the recession and bankruptcy swamped him.
He later rejoined QIH, which is now backed by US hedge funds, as a consultant but fell out with the new regime and left again.
Mr Quinn last month spoke at a public rally, where he vowed to regain control of the entity, claiming he was the best person to run QIH.
Nevis Premier Mark Brantley, an attorney by profession, used his feature address at the recently held Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Association’s Gala.
For the 15th Regional Law Conference to highlight the pervasive issue of cyber-bullying by persons hiding behind anonymous social media profiles.
The disturbing trend has been a hot topic in St. Kitts and Nevis of late where certain Facebook profiles bearing fake names.
Whose handlers appear to be supportive of the government, have popped up unleashing malicious character assassinations on public officials, media practitioners, and other members of civil society.
During his address, Premier Brantley quoted a US Psychologist. “People are more likely to write horrible things when they think they’re being anonymous.”
The premier said “This sentiment clarifies precisely why social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram, Tumblr and Twitter.
Also Read: Internet Marketing Company Files $3.5M Defamation Lawsuit Against Rival
With the plethora of ways they allow anonymity to be achieved,. are ideal breeding grounds for cyber bullies and are being employed to flagrantly disregard values like kindness and a firm rejection of promulgating hatred for others.”
He said these acts of cyber terrorism are demonstrative of how technology is being abused.
Adding that what is worse is that the deficit of kindness unveiled via the internet. is not just being perpetrated by strangers with devious intentions targeting others for their own amusement.
Mr. Brantley said “Beyond cyber-bullying and revenge, pornography with their common denominator of personal attacks.
The tech revolution is also a catalyst for the degradation of the core values of civil society from a political perspective. As a politician.
I am all too aware of how technology has expanded the reach of those who wish to disseminate false information, or “fake news” to further their political agenda.”
Fake Facebook Profiles Fake Facebook Profiles Fake Facebook Profiles Fake Facebook Profiles Fake Facebook Profiles
Can your employee’s big mouth pull you into a defamation lawsuit?
Q: One of our employees, Cora, has a mouth. Those of us who work directly with her have learned how to take what she says, and some of our customers find her fun to talk with, but others take offense. Once they do, Cora gets her back up and blasts them. This happened last month. Cora apparently called the co-workers of a woman who made her mad and said insulting things about the woman and her children. Cora then sent out the same insults out on posts via Facebook and Twitter.
This morning, we got a letter from an attorney. We’re being sued for defamation as Cora’s posts got traced back to our company computers. We haven’t been able to find an attorney who can help us, and don’t know how much trouble we’re in.
A: Employers can be held liable for what their employees do if the employees do it within the “scope” of their employment. For example, if an employee has an accident in a vehicle when driving for work, the accident victims can sue the employer.
Similarly, employers can be held liable for defamatory statements made by their employees if the comments are made “within the scope” of their job or the employer “endorses the conduct.”
Two recent cases outline how courts rule. In Sade Garnett v. Remedi Seniorcare of Virginia, LLC, No. 17-1890 (June 11, 2018), the courts ruled that employers don’t need to police every employee interaction, particularly ones made outside the scope of their employment.
In that case the employee, Sade Garnett, told a night supervisor at Remedi that she’d be on leave for surgery the next day. Her supervisor then told other employees Garnett was having surgery on her vagina because she had an STD. Garnett then sued her employer, and not her supervisor, for defamation.
According to the court, although the supervisor made the comments at work, Remedi wasn’t liable because the supervisor wasn’t under the employer’s control, wasn’t performing assigned work and wasn’t acting in the employer’s interest when he made the comments. The court ruling said that the supervisor’s “gossiping to his co-workers” was outside his scope of his employment.
While that court noted it would be impossible for an employer to “police” its employee’s speech, a court or jury might rule differently in your situation.
According to the ruling, “(l)iability will attach only if the employer (a) bears at least partial responsibility for the tortious conduct; or (b) has some ability to limit the likelihood that the employee would commit a tort.”
Mariah Carey Wins $2 Million Defamation Battle With South American Promoters
Mariah Carey Wins $2 Million Defamation Battle With South American Promoters
Mariah Carey just snagged a W against a concert promoter who claimed the diva cost them millions of dollars in damages for allegedly bailing on scheduled concerts in South America.
The lawsuit stemmed from legal action MiMi originally took against FEG Entretenimientos S.A. when she claimed she did not receive proper payment for the scheduled appearances, which then forced her to cancel.
The promoters countersued and accused Mariah of defaming them in a tweet that read, “Devastated my shows in Chile, Argentina & Brazil had to be canceled. My fans deserve better than some of these promoters treated them.”
Mariah Carey just snagged a W against a concert promoter who claimed the diva cost them millions of dollars in damages for allegedly bailing on scheduled concerts in South America. The lawsuit stemmed from legal action MiMi originally took against FEG Entretenimientos S.A. when she claimed she did not receive proper payment for the scheduled appearances, which then forced her to cancel. The promoters countersued and accused Mariah of defaming them in a tweet that read, “Devastated my shows in Chile, Argentina & Brazil had to be canceled. My fans deserve better than some of these promoters treated them.” Mariah Carey just snagged a W against a concert promoter who claimed the diva cost them millions of dollars in damages for allegedly bailing on scheduled concerts in South America. The lawsuit stemmed from legal action MiMi originally took against FEG Entretenimientos S.A. when she claimed she did not receive proper payment for the scheduled appearances, which then forced her to cancel. The promoters countersued and accused Mariah of defaming them in a tweet that read, “Devastated my shows in Chile, Argentina & Brazil had to be canceled. My fans deserve better than some of these promoters treated them.”
Exclusive: RuPaul’s Drag Race star Tatianna discusses the show’s racism issue
Tatianna has discussed the racism issue on RuPaul’s Drag Race after a number of queens have opened up about the abuse they’ve received.
Season 10 stars The Vixen and Asia O’Hara recently discussed the shocking messages and threats they have had since they appeared on television, while RuPaul had to step in to defend season seven’s Jasmin Masters after she received death threats online.
Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Tatianna said: “I personally have almost had the opposite experience. I am someone of colour but they never tell anyone I am someone of colour. I have done two seasons of the show and both seasons I have said ‘I am black and I’m Italian’ and it’s never something that is featured.
“I don’t know if it just doesn’t come up in conversation and that’s why it isn’t talked about but sometimes people don’t get the whole view of someone until you know their background to a certain extent. I always wish that was something shared a little more because when I do have things to say about race people go, ‘Well, you’re white, what would you know?’ I go ‘well… I’m not’.
“I do completely see how certain girls feel the way that they do about things that go on on the show.”
She added: “I think the fans do have a racism issue but it isn’t specific to RuPaul’s Drag Racefans, it’s specific to people. Any show that has a strong following, they get racist if something happens they don’t like.”
Tatianna likened the situation to black actress Anna Diop receiving racist abuse when it was revealed she would be playing Starfire in the Titans TV series, despite Starfire being an orange alien in the source material.
“I don’t think it’s a Drag Race issue, it’s people in general that have a race issue and when something happens that they don’t like, the first thing they do is call someone the n-word,” Tatianna said. “It’s not specific to Drag Race.”
The 29-year-old also discussed her controversial exit from the second series of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2.
Thinking of suing for defamation? Have a drink first, and play with the dog
Eddie Obeid isn’t just the eternal poster boy for bare-faced political corruption and a current inmate of Her Majesty’s prisons.
He was also, back in the day, a successful defamation plaintiff, taking damages of $162,173 and more than $1 million in costs from Fairfax over a series of articles by Kate McClymont which had labeled him as, well, corrupt.
When Eddie finally went down after his long career of poisoning the governmental well with his cartoonish venality, Fairfax stood vindicated — and still $1,162,173 (plus its own legal costs) poorer. You don’t get it back.
Don’t blame Eddie though, he was only pursuing Australian political tradition. Our MPs are the world’s most litigious and, if you’ve ever wondered why the media’s constant calls for urgent reform of our defamation laws are consistently ignored by our parliaments, then an exploration of the record of politicians suing media organizations for defamation might give you a clue.
PHOTO: Eddie Obeid won a defamation case against Fairfax Media for calling him corrupt… before being jailed. (AAP: Dean Lewins, file photo)
While they routinely clothe themselves in the conceit that you need a thick skin in politics, our representatives are notoriously quick to reach for the lawyers when they don’t like what they read. Bob Hawke remains the champion, having sued pretty much everyone in his career and collecting an impressive collection of payouts.
Queensland Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen also sued everything that moved, filing more than 20 suits. His entire cabinet at one point memorably jointly sued the opposition leader for calling them all corrupt. Which, really, they were.
United Arab Emirates jails activist for 10 years ‘for defaming nation’
A prominent activist in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for “defaming” the country on social media.
Ahmed Mansoor, a 48-year-old father of four, was arrested in March last year.
Rights group had condemned his detention, saying that he was held in solitary confinement without a lawyer.
He has also been fined one million dirhams ($272,000; £205,000) and will be placed under surveillance for three years after his release.
Mansoor was cleared of co-operating with a terrorist organization, but found guilty of using social media sites to “publish false information that damages the country’s reputation” and to “spread hatred and sectarianism”, local media reported on Wednesday.
In 2011, he was one of five activists arrested after calling for political or economic reforms. All were later pardoned by authorities.
Four years later, Mansoor received the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders for what was cited as his work in raising concerns about arbitrary detention, torture and degrading treatment in the UAE, in the face of repeated intimidation and harassment.
Despite being one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East and promoting hi-tech sectors and innovations, the UAE remains restrictive on political activity.
The federation of seven states, which include Abu Dhabi and Dubai, has no official opposition and bans political parties.
In 2013, almost 70 Islamists were given jail sentences over an alleged plot to overthrow the government.
Last year, when the UAE and a number of other Arab states cut ties with Qatar, the Emirati attorney general warned that citizens expressing sympathy for Qatar could face heavy fines and prison sentences of up to 15 years.
Nike’s C.E.O. Vows Changes After Claims of Workplace Harassment and Bias
The chief executive of Nike told employees that departures related to workplace behavior will be completed in the coming days, a move that sought to reassure a work force jolted by allegations of misconduct and discrimination against women and gain closure on one of the most turbulent periods in the company’s history.
The comments by the executive, Mark Parker, at a companywide meeting on Thursday, signaled Mr. Parker’s effort to end quickly the rumors and speculation of further managerial changes inside the world’s largest footwear and apparel company, which has already facilitated the departures or planned departures of six top male executives in recent weeks.
The New York Times obtained a recording of Mr. Parker’s 30-minute address to employees on Friday. A company spokeswoman on Saturday provided a transcript of the speech.
The chief executive of Nike told employees that departures related to workplace behavior will be completed in the coming days, a move that sought to reassure a work force jolted by allegations of misconduct and discrimination against women and gain closure on one of the most turbulent periods in the company’s history. The comments by the executive, Mark Parker, at a companywide meeting on Thursday, signaled Mr. Parker’s effort to end quickly the rumors and speculation of further managerial changes inside the world’s largest footwear and apparel company, which has already facilitated the departures or planned departures of six top male executives in recent weeks. The New York Times obtained a recording of Mr. Parker’s 30-minute address to employees on Friday. A company spokeswoman on Saturday provided a transcript of the speech. The New York Times obtained a recording of Mr. Parker’s 30-minute address to employees on Friday. A company spokeswoman on Saturday provided a transcript of the speech.
Miami judge seals high-profile defamation suit filed after state dropped child sex abuse case
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Peter R. Lopez has sealed all court records in a high-profile defamation lawsuit brought by Jozef Opdeweegh against the parents and grandfather of a 6-year-old girl who accused him of sexually molesting her at a May 2017 pool party.
Judge Lopez’s temporary order puts off limits any information about the case, including the docket, which is no longer available via the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court’s website or by going to the clerk’s records office. That means there is no public notice of court filings or upcoming hearing dates – like the one Lopez said in his order he’ll hold to decide whether to lift the seal or make it permanent.
“The court finds that it is necessary and reasonable to require that the file be sealed,” Lopez wrote in his April 9 order. “All parties to this action have informed the court that they do not object to entry of this order.”
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Peter R. Lopez has sealed all court records in a high-profile defamation lawsuit brought by Jozef Opdeweegh against the parents and grandfather of a 6-year-old girl who accused him of sexually molesting her at a May 2017 pool party. Judge Lopez’s temporary order puts off limits any information about the case, including the docket, which is no longer available via the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court’s website or by going to the clerk’s records office. That means there is no public notice of court filings or upcoming hearing dates – like the one Lopez said in his order he’ll hold to decide whether to lift the seal or make it permanent. “The court finds that it is necessary and reasonable to require that the file be sealed,” Lopez wrote in his April 9 order. “All parties to this action have informed the court that they do not object to entry of this order.”
