Rashad Richey, Georgia Democrat Party Political Director, Launches Libel Suit to Squelch Blogger Andre Walker of Georgia Politics Unfiltered

I saw this first at WSB-TV Atlanta, "Georgia Democrats' director record comes to light."

And here are Andre Walker's key posts, via Bates Line:

* "Georgia Democrats Say No Comment to Political Director Rashad Richey's Recidivism."

* "Democratic Party Political Director Assaulted Girlfriend & Kicked In Her Front Door."

* "GA Federation of Democratic Women Prez Tried Keeping Woman Abuser Out of Jail."

* "The MSM Reports on Rashad Richey the Recidivist."

And yesterday at Walker's blog, "Good Trouble vs. Bad Trouble."

But see Bryan at Legal Insurrection, "Is conservative blogger in Georgia another victim of “lawfare”?"

While the conservative blogosphere is focused on Brett Kimberlin, there is another instance of possible “lawfare” which deserves attention.

Roughly three weeks ago a lawsuit alleging defamation against a conservative blogger was filed in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia.

The claim was brought by Georgia Democratic Party Political Director, Rashad Richey, against conservative blogger Andre Walker of Georgia Politics Unfiltered, as well as a number of other named and unnamed Defendants.

In Richey’s complaint, a number of points were cited as evidence of libel and libel per se. Both of these categories fall under the legal umbrella of defamation. The complaint referenced, among other things, blog posts where Walker wrote that Richey had a “history of making poor personal decisions,” that he was a “criminal,” and a “jailbird.”

Walker has answered the complaint saying not only that this lawsuit is without merit, but also that it is an exercise of frivolity, actionable under the Georgia Abusive Litigation Act.

Walker further asserts that the statements at issue were made in the exercise of Walker’s “right of free speech under the Constitutions of Georgia and the United States of America…” and that truth is an absolute defense to a defamation claim.  News reports have publicized Richey’s history of run-ins with the law.

Additionally, Richey likely will be considered a “public figure” under the law, requiring him to prove actual malice.

Lots more at Instapundit.

And don't forget: "Friday, May 25th Is “Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day”."