"So yes, many people become very quiet when they're faced with the realistic possibility that they're going to have to defend against a libel claim even if what they said is true. Because it's all very well to defend, but if it costs $10,000 to defend a true comment, well you're out $10,000. How much is it worth?"
Source:
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/libel-chill-quashing-negative-online-090000416.htmlIt comes down to how much are you willing to pay to prove you are right. If a big dawg comes after you its going to cost one way or the other. You have to lawyer up or risk having a hefty judgement ruled against you.
There's a difference between posting a review of a business on yelp or google reviews or something, which is what the link you posted was regarding, and speculating on a forum that is awash with rumor and speculation.
See these excerpts from an EFF overview page (
https://www.eff.org/issues/bloggers/legal/liability/defamation ) regarding online libel:
...courts have said that statements made in the context of an Internet bulletin board or chat room are highly likely to be opinions or hyperbole...
also:
Is there a difference between reporting on public and private figures?
Yes. A private figure claiming defamationyour neighbor, your roommate, the guy who walks his dog by your favorite coffee shoponly has to prove you acted negligently, which is to say that a "reasonable person" would not have published the defamatory statement.
A public figure must show "actual malice"that you published with either knowledge of falsity or in reckless disregard for the truth. This is a difficult standard for a plaintiff to meet.
Metcalfe is clearly a public figure, and so he would have to meet the very high standard that there was "actual malice". Considering the amount of rumor and innuendo and (possibly doctored) evidence that floats around here, and is the basis for Spoetnik's and other people's speculation and accusations of scam, I seriously doubt there is any chance he would be able to launch a successful case. There's really no need to lawyer up if a judge throws the case out as soon as the plaintiff makes the accusation.