Judge Hits Blogger with $2.5 Million Fine for Not Being a Journalist. In a case that's sending a frightening message to the blogger community, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that a blogger must pay $2.5 million to an investment firm she wrote about — because she isn't a real journalist. As reported by Seattle Weekly, Judge Marco A. Hernandez said Crystal Cox, who runs several blogs, wasn't entitled to the protections afforded to journalists — specifically, Oregon's media shield law for sources — because she wasn't "affiliated with any newspaper, magazine, periodical, book, pamphlet, news service, wire service, news or feature syndicate, broadcast station or network, or cable television system. " The Obsidian Finance Group sued Cox in January for $10 million for writing several blog posts critical of the company and its co-founder, Kevin Padrick.
Obsidian argued that the writing was defamatory. Cox represented herself in court. Are bloggers the same as journalists? Crystal Cox, Oregon Blogger, Isn't a Journalist, Concludes U.S. Court--Imposes $2.5 Million Judgement on Her. Kevin Padrick, Defamed Attorney, Responds to Crystal Cox 'Blogger-Isn't-Journalist' Story. Why An Investment Firm Was Awarded $2.5 Million After Being Defamed By Blogger. Court rules Crystal Cox, law blogger, is not a journalist, imposes $2.5 million judgement. Academics and Web thinkers have spent a lot of time jawboning about whether a blogger fits the definition of a journalist. It’s an endless discussion, but this week in Oregon, the debate turned costly for one blogger. Crystal Cox, a Montanan who calls herself an investigative blogger and produces several blogs about the law, was sued in January by the investment firm Obsidian Finance Group over several opinionated blog posts that were highly critical of Obsidian and its co-founder Kevin Padrick.
The firm sought $10 million in damages. Although the judge threw out several of the firm’s claims, he ruled against her on a single post and ordered her to pay $2.5 million in damages. According to The Seattle Weekly, Ms. Cox, representing herself in court, argued that her post, in which she called Mr. Padrick a “thug” and a “liar,” was based on an inside source. According to The Associated Press, “U.S. Ms. Meanwhile, Forbes did some digging and discovered that Ms. Speaking to The Oregonian, Mr. When Truth Survives Free Speech.