A lawsuit against members of the Houston Independent Media Center is a threat to freedom of speach and should concern all indymedia centers.
According to documents recently posted to the Houston IMC News Wire, Loel Coleman, a Houston area lawyer, plans to file a lawsuit against members of the Houston IMC alleging "libel" on Monday, March 3, 2003. The former president of the Texas American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently advising the defendents, and may represent them during the proceedings. Mr. Coleman's actions are widely seen as an attack on open-publishing (e.g., he has demanded IP logs from Houston IMC) and an attempt to undermine Indymedia generally.
Loel Coleman's case may set legal precedent and is of concern for all Indepedent Media Centers. See the below url for copies of the libel suit and plaintiff demands.
http://houston.indymedia.org/news/2003/03/8057.php
http://www.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=241724&group=webcast
