Appeals Court Overturns $60K Award Against Blogger

An appeals court has overturned a $60,000 award against a Minneapolis blogger whose post led to a man’s firing.

The case against John Hoff, known as “Johnny Northside,” had drawn attention for its free speech implications.

Hoff wrote a blistering post in 2009 on a man named Jerry Moore, accusing him of being involved in mortgage fraud. Moore was quickly dismissed from a University of Minnesota job in which he was to study foreclosures. Moore then sued Hoff.

A district court jury found that Hoff’s post was true, but his actions interfered with Moore’s employment contract.

The Star Tribune reports the appeals court ruled that Hoff can’t be liable if the information he posted is true.