March 4, 2011

Love's pricey tweets

The Hollywood Reporter broke the news yesterday on its always entertaining Hollywood, Esq. (the intersection of entertainment and law) Web page that Courtney Love has settled a defamation case against her for a reported $430,000. The case arose from a series of tweets that Love posted on Twitter about fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir, the self-described Boudoir Queen whose online, one-line bio states "eccentric living is what I do best."


As reported by THR, Simorangkir became embroiled in a dispute with Love over a $4,000 payment for clothing, and accused Love of ruining her business with a series of allegedly defamatory tweets (including referring to Simorangkir as an "asswipe nasty lying hosebag thief”) posted during a "20 minute rant" in 2009.


In its article, THR reports that Love had argued in her defense that her rants were merely an expression of opinion, and that Simorangkir could not prove how they damaged her. The designer, it is reported, pointed to Loves's influence as an entertainer and the power of social media to disseminate damaging comments.


While Love might have felt that it was "Awful" that she was "Hit So Hard" by Simorangkir's suit, which Love, perhaps having thicker "Celebrity Skin" might have thought was "Uncool," THR reports that her lawyer is pleased with the deal, which he views as a modest payout because it is extended over the next few years.


It is reported elsewhere that while Love wanted the settlement to remain confidential, Simorangkir insisted upon going public, perhaps as a show of vindication. 


Simorangkir might even feel that the money she will receive and the publicity about the settlement is "Almost Golden."


Bonus First Amendment Trivia: Love was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in the 1996  film The People v. Larry Flynt, which is based in part on the legendary Supreme Court case Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, and in which Love starred as Flynt's wife.

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