Blogger not covered by New Jersey shield law, court says

A New Jersey judge ruled last week that a blogger does not qualify for protection under the state’s shield law.

Superior Court Judge Louis Locascio rejected blogger Shellee Hale’s claims that accusations posted  on Oprano.com,  a forum frequented by members of the adult entertainment industry, about a New Jersey-based software company should be covered by the shield law as information collected in the newsgathering process, according to The New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Too Much Media LCC, which supplies computer software to adult entertainment Internet sites, sued Hale last year for defamation after Hale,a Washington-state private investigator, posted on Oprano allegations that the company had threatened her life and violated New Jersey identity theft protection laws, the Star-Ledger said.

Because Hale is not a professional journalist and has no affiliation with any legitimate media publication, the judge said she does not enjoy the shield law’s protection.