Watch CBS News

Tampa Lawyer Sues Over Anonymous Online Review

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

TAMPA (AP) — A Tampa divorce and family law attorney is a central figure in a precedent-setting case now on appeal in the state of Washington.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Deborah Thomson filed a defamation suit against an anonymous reviewer on the attorney ratings web site Avvo.com. She has asked courts in Seattle, where Avvo is based, to enforce a subpoena for information that would unmask her anonymous critic.

Among other things, she argues that the First Amendment does not protect defamatory speech.

Thomson wrote a response that Avvo posted right below her critic's review.

A Washington trial judge denied Thomson's request to force Avvo to turn over Doe's records, saying she failed to sufficiently establish the case behind her defamation claim.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.