Legal Question in Discrimination Law in New York

Controversial Website

Although I am only a high school student, I was looking for options about what to do about a very controversial website. It's called www.schoolscum.com. It is set up like a forum and people anonymously spread rumors, and say absolutely awful things. I wondered if there was anything I could do legally about this, to shut the site down. There have been bomb threats, and the site was shut down due to those, but on both occasions it has reopened. There are school forums designed to spread rumors and gossip about people, drug forums to talk about selling and using drugs, and sex forums to talk about sexual things. Please e-mail ASAP to let me know if there is anything I can do - since our local police know about and have seen the website and have not yet taken any action. Thank you, and please keep my identity anonymous, as I would not like to show up on the website.


Asked on 1/07/03, 6:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kenneth J. Ashman Ashman Law Offices, LLC

Re: Controversial Website

In order for you to take legal action personally -- as opposed to a formal law enforcement official (such as the police or an attorney general) -- you would have to be personally damaged. Thus, absent some non-legal action, such as drumming up local support or contacting your representative, there is nothing legally you can do. If, on the other hand, you find yourself the victim of false factual accusations on the site, you may have a defamation claim available.

-- Kenneth J. Ashman; www.AshmanLawOffices.com

This communication is for general purposes only and is not intended to and did not create an attorney-client relationship.

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Answered on 1/07/03, 6:23 pm


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