Courtney Love says ‘sorry’ to Twitter defamation case at pricey $430,000
Singer Courtney Love agreed to pay $430,000 in legal settlement over defamation case on Twitter
What could have been the first high-profile courtroom case that would have defined the concept of defamation on Twitter was put on hold as singer, Courtney Love agreed to settle the case with a fashion designer at such a high price.
As agreed by both parties, the court settlement between Courtney Love and designer, Dawn Simorangkir (a.ka. "Boudoir Queen") has been finalized on Thursday at an astounding price of $430,000. Reuters said that the first payment was expected Thursday while the remaining amount will be paid in a staggered manner until 2014.
The defamation case stemmed from a dispute between Love and Simorangkir over a $4,000-payment for clothing, said Reuters.
As the case have been monitored closely by the media since it erupted in 2009, it started when Love was accused by the designer of damaging her business by the series of ‘defamatory tweets’ that the Hole frontwoman was seen and heard ranting for 20 minutes two years ago.
Matthew Belloni of Reuters noted that Love contended that the said rantings could in no way ruin the designer’s business, adding that it was only an ‘expression of [her] opinion’.
This was countered back by the fashion designer who insisted that Love's stature as a celebrity and as a public figure had played a great impact on her business.
Simorangkir emphasized that Love’s influence complemented by the innate power of ‘social media to disseminate damaging comments’ has put a great dent in her life as a professional fashion designer and as a person. Simorangkir highlighted how she was affected by Love’s description of her as an "asswipe nasty lying hosebag thief."
It was a big win for the fashion designer, admitted by her counsel, who noted that Love’s defamatory rants have cost her to pay a real high price. And that is, literally.
"Her reprehensible defamatory comments were completely false and $430,000 is quite a significant way to say I am sorry. One would hope that, given this disaster, restraint of pen, tongue and tweet would guide Ms. Love's future conduct," Simorangkir attorney, Bryan Freedman told The Hollywood Reporter, said Reuters.
The settlement, however was also a feat on Love’s camp according to the singer’s lawyer who said he was pleased with the agreement.
“Because of the extended payout it's a modest settlement," Love’s attorney, James Janowitz said, revealing that the designer had actually asked for more than the agreed amount.
Janowitz added, "They got out with an amount that left them bragging rights but nothing else."
With Love’s defamatory case and the high price she paid for it should serve as a warning for everyone who takes to Twitter and other social network site in venting out.