Story posted Thursday, October 8, 2009
Stone's Son Targeted On Website?
Comcast on Monday turned over to a judge the name of a person who allegedly made an online comment on area newspaper's website towards the son of Buffalo Grove Trustee Lisa Stone.
"It was revealed to the judge," Stone confirmed on Wednesday. She said she is still waiting for Judge Jeffrey Lawrence's decision if he will give her the name.
Stone brought the case against the Daily Herald in April. According to her compliant, confirmed by the attorney for the Daily Herald, John Kloecker, the paper posted a story on its Web site about a questionable campaign flier. After some negative comments about Stone were posted on a "reader comments" page, Stone's son, a freshman in high school at the time, responded in the same section. During the exchange of comments, Stone said one poster made "defamatory and injurious statements" toward her son.
Kloecker would not comment further about the case, citing instructions from the Daily Herald.
"There's not a parent that will tolerate someone speaking to their child that way," Stone said of the posted comments. "It's disturbing."
Stone would not release the comments that were posted on the Web site; the Daily Herald has removed the comments from the online story. A spokesperson for the Cook County Circuit Court emailed the Journal & Topics Newspapers that the comments were available but did not send them or return calls asking for that information before press time.
Stone demanded the person's identity from the Daily Herald, then filed suit when the paper refused to reveal it. Lawrence ruled the newspaper must release the information and the paper turned over the person's e-mail address, his age, his ZIP code, and his Internet Protocol (IP) address.
When it was discovered his e-mail account was no longer active, Stone filed another petition to force Comcast, his service provider, to release his name.
On Sept. 25, Lawrence ruled that Comcast must reveal the name on Monday, Oct. 5.
If she obtains the name, Stone is not sure what her next step will be. "I don't know what action I'll take. I will take action," she said. "Anyone that's seen it (the post) on a professional level is deeply disturbed by it."
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