Tweet Torts: Rocker Courtney Love Sued by Designer For Defamation on Twitter

We have been following the expansion of defamation cases linked to Internet sites, here, and here. We now have an interesting Twitter case involving rock star Courtney Love, who lost her bid recently to dismiss a libel action filed by designer Dawn Simorangkir. Simorangkir claims in the lawsuit that Love “has embarked in what is nothing short of an obsessive and delusional crusade to terrorize and destroy” her.

The Tweet that makes this a particularly strong case is where Love described Simorangkir as having a “history of dealing cocaine.” Under the common law, alleging criminal conduct is a per se category of defamation. Love also accused her of being a drug addict, a prostitute, a thief, and a “horrible lying bitch.”

Simorangkir, known as the Boudoir Queen, is suing for libel, privacy violations, contractual breaches, and emotional distress. She also claims defamation on Love’s Facebook page.

We have previously seen Tweet torts for libel, here.

Here is the complaint: courtney_love_lawsuit_090331

For the full story, click here and here.