Bloggers beware: Fla. jury slams Blogger!

A Florida Jury has slapped a blogger with an $11.3 million verdict for defamation of character. Read the story here. While this case does not really establish much by way of a persuasive legal precedent, because it was more of a judgment by the default of the Defendant (in failing to defend the suit) than anything else, it should concern EVERY Blogger out there. This is because just as the Florida jury did, any other jury could easily find compensable injury to one's reputation as a result of a Blogger's posted comments. As such, this latest development could portend "dark clouds looming in the not - to - distant horizon" for Blogger's who use the internet to defame people out of pure malice or sheer irresponsibility. The First Amendment's free speech protection is NOT absolute. So Bloggers BEWARE!