Lawyers will battle in court Thursday to try and learn the identity of the anonymous web poster known as Elmer Fudd. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce says Fudd posted libelous and false accusations against it on a news web site.
Lawyers for the chamber are trying to get a judge to order the web site to release information concerning Fudd's identity. An Horry County Circuit Judge will hear that motion to compel Thursday morning at 9:30.
In August, someone using the screen name Elmer Fudd logged on to the Sun News Web site, and asked why no news agency was covering a hot story. Elmer Fudd claimed Horry County Sheriff's deputies had raided the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, seizing computers.
The sheriff says no raid ever happened and no computers were taken.
The chamber fired back with a lawsuit that calls Elmer Fudd's postings untrue and defamatory. They want to find out Fudd's identity to pursue damages, so the chamber sent a subpoena to the Sun News.
The newspaper reportedly contacted Elmer Fudd and gave that person until October 2nd to reveal him or herself. If that didn't happen, the news organization said it would turn over its findings to the lawyers.
But then a motion was filed in Horry County court by John Doe, or Elmer Fudd, asking the court to hold off on enforcing the subpoena, until he or she can hire an attorney.
The motion claims Elmer Fudd has a first amendment right to anonymous speech.
NewsChannel 15 will be in the courtroom for the hearing. We'll post details as we get them right here on CarolinaLive.com.
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