Run little taxpayer ants run!

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post, "The Electronic Frontier Foundation!"

Do you think the EFF could or would help in your court case?

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Dear Anonymous:

Thank you for writing. Depends on what you mean by "help." We'd be truly amazed if it were financial but there are other perhaps even more meaningful ways. Understand, like Harvard's Berkman Centre for Internet & Society this is a leading edge think tank already tackling internet legal issues we dare say courts in Canada and Manitoba have yet encountered. Therefore, sharing case law and technical information would be of great assistance.

Then there's the most important issue - publicity. You really have to wonder about the intent and motivation of any taxpayer financed organization and its lawyer who would push such faulty, ridiculous, vexatious, frivolous, scandalous, malicious litigation ..... you complete the descriptives. A solicitor with whom we've had past contact labeled them as "pathological litigators." How apropos! What other possible explanation exists?

Remember, first and foremost the Manitoba Metis Federation is a political lobbying organization. The last situation elected politicians desire is bad press especially at election time. Imagine the impact, for example, of a well placed article in an Electronic Frontier Foundation publication that went viral subsequently picked up by other groups and spreading like wildfire across the North American blogging and legal community making the case a cause celebre and poster child for SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation)? Could happen.

A hot white light focused on the Plaintiffs and their Counsel would have them scurrying for the darkness of the corners like little taxpayer ants.

Sometimes you have to really wonder. Do the Plaintiffs and Murry Trachtenberg (www.ptlaw.mb.ca; mtrachtenberg@ptlaw.mb.ca) really comprehend the power of the internet? More importantly, what does that say about the mindset of President David Chartrand and his Board of Directors? Easy, time for a change!

Sincerely,

Clare L. Pieuk