Model Liskula Cohen Sues Google Over Blogger's Attacks
The blog, called Skanks in NYC, posted the comments about Canadian blonde bombshell Liskula Cohen in August 2008. The blog doesn't seem to have been used or updated since then. Cohen is suing Google in an attempt to force them to reveal the blogger's identity. The blog is hosted by the search engine's subsidiary, Blogger.com.
Cohen told the New York Daily News, "It's petty, it's stupid and it's pathetic. And when I do find out who did this, at least I'll know who my enemies are."
Cohen's lawyer, Steven Wagner, stated that although it's difficult to discover the identity of bloggers, he believes that the case has a chance, due to the fact that the situation is "libelous, it's defamatory and you shouldn't just get away with this."
The blogger put up only five posts on August 21, 2008, but each one is devoted to bringing Cohen down a notch. In the first blog, the blogger gives Liskula Cohen "the first place award for 'Skankiest in NYC'" and says that though she may have been beautiful ten years ago, she isn't anymore. The rest of the posts are much of the same, with such headings as,
"Im (sic) Skanky and I know and I really like to show it. . . . . .I'm skanky and I know it clap your hands!!!!!!" and "Mr. Ed's wife Mrs. Ed."
It's understandable that Cohen would be upset about a blog seemingly established just to attack her. Regardless of how deserving the blogger is of punishment, Cohen is rather naïve in her lawsuit.
In late November, I regrettably had to write about "MySpace Mom" Lori Drew's escape from felony charges. Lori Drew had posed as a teenage boy, wooed insecure 13-year-old Megan Meier on MySpace, then broke up with her. Meier committed suicide within an hour of the breakup.
Just like the case against Lori Drew, Cohen is ultimately looking for a violation of the website's terms of service agreement. In the Blogger Content Policy, it states that "hateful content" is forbidden. This is defined as material that "promotes hate toward groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/gender identity."
If Cohen wins her lawsuit, she would consider it a good thing. However, if Megan Meier's family can't even get justice for their daughter's death, then it is far from a good thing. The fact of the matter is, lawsuits against websites like MySpace and blogs are a new issue for the court system.
Is Cohen out of line with her lawsuit? No.
The fact is that people have started blogs and have used websites like MySpace to harass each other for years with no retribution or apologies. That begs the question:
If Cohen wins her case, would it just be because of who she is?
Jose Martinez, Model Liskula Cohen Sues Google Over Blogger's 'Skank' Comment, New York Daily News
Sarah F. Sullivan, 'MySpace Mom' Lori Drew Found Not Guilty of Felony in MySpace Suicide Case, Associated Content
Published by Sarah F. Sullivan
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, emphasis in Writing. Freelance writer and editor for three years. View profile
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2 Comments
Post a CommentWhatever happened to Freedom of Speech. Cohen really needs to grow up in my opinion. All she is doing is drawing attention to the disgusting remarks. If she just moved on then no one would care.
Interesting topic and excellent analysis. I like how you connected this with the Lori Drew case.