Tort Law for Paralegals, 6th edition. Chapter 11 Defamation.

Independent Newspapers, Inc., v Brodie, 407 Md. 415 (2009)

(casetext.com/case/independent-news-v-brodie)

1. What was the constitutional issue about anonymity in this case?

2. Does the U.S. Constitution give the right to someone to maintain his or her anonymity? Why?

3. Why did the plaintiff in this case want to learn the identity of specific online posters?

4. Why did the court in this case rule that the trial judge abused his discretion by ordering the release of the true identities of the persons who blogged under aliases?

5. What are the elements of defamation, and how did the plaintiff come up short in his complaint?