Billie Dunn may sue Body Language Individual

[Knox]

Jan 27, 2011 ... Billie Jean Dunn: "On top of Hailey missing have people saying horrible things and once I get Hailey home I'll deal with the slander and the defamation of character. I definitely will"

http://interceder.net/list/one-month-anniversry-hailey-dunn

One month after Hailey went missing, she was intimating that she would take legal action. Still singing the same ole song Billie ...

 

[cluciano63]

One month after Hailey went missing, she was intimating that she would take legal action. Still singing the same ole song Billie ...

Some people are just lawsuit-inclined...she may think of suing naturally. Some folks count on lawsuit money as part of their income Not sayin' this is the case here, but it happens.

 

[Knox]

Some people are just lawsuit-inclined...she may think of suing naturally. Some folks count on lawsuit money as part of their income Not sayin' this is the case here, but it happens.

Bet you're right on the money Cluciano63.

Besides concern for herself and the boy-toy, I think $$$$$ comes next on her list.

 

[yllek]

Billie Jean Dunn and Mr. Young are making Terri Horman and her lawyer look like geniuses.

Please file this civil suit, Mr. Young. It would be "awesome" to see Billie Jean testify in civil court about the statements she's made in this ongoing criminal investigation.

 

[sreshowtime]

Can I sue someone for mental duress?? for the tears I have wept? for the hours I have spent staring at maps? for the ache in my heart knowing a young lady may never go to her first prom, get accepted to her favorite college, say I do, look into the sweet face of her first new born, or ....

where's Hailey?

 

[Donjeta]

I haven't listened to his show and I've no idea if there is anything sueworthy there but they quote this objectionable example:

Peter Hyatt, who hosts an internet radio show, said this week: "I believe Billie Jean Dunn caught her daughter, Hailey, in a sexual act with Shawn Adkins and tempers exploded resulting in injury and eventual death to Hailey."

While I wouldn't like to hear this if my daughter was missing and I understand why no parent would, "I believe" indicates this is just his speculation of what happened, not a fact. Can a person be sued for expressing their speculations and theories of what could have happened in an open criminal case? If yes, boy, aren't a lot of Websleuthers in trouble...

"He's absolutely horrible at what he does and he's no good at his job, because everything he's ever said has been a lie," Dunn said.

Can Peter Hyatt sue Billie for saying this? I'm sure he can pretty easily prove that it's a slanderous lie because he's verifiably said at least one true thing in his life.

Anyway, exhibit A, "I believe that X happened" is not a lie if this is really what he believes, even if X did not happen.

 

[katydid23]

So does this mean Billie has a computer and an internet connection now? LOL

 

[Melanie]

I have not heard that Billie is working.
I also wonder how she is paying her attorney that she "hired."
This could be a way for her to get caught up on her bills and pay for her attorney.
But if she sues and it backfires, she will have to come up with something else to pay for a counter law suit.
At least the drama is keeping her daughter in the news.

Oh PH would have a field day with this one. What about that pesky little deposition she'd have to endure? What true harm did it cause? I would be much more worried about the child allegations than anything PH said. What harm has it caused her? She's obviously still comfy on someone's couch. She's not working - is this keeping her from getting a job, or the fact that her drug charges may be responsible for that. Her own actions cause us to make judgements, it's our constituional right. Besides, she has to PROVE that SA wasn't fiddling about with Hailey. And from the school video, I still say (IMHO) she looks pregnant. So there you go, BJD - have at it.

in the United States, the person first must prove that the statement was false. Second, that person must prove that the statement caused harm. And, third, they must prove that the statement was made without adequate research into the truthfulness of the statement.

MOO

Mel

 

[MsFacetious]

ok, if your daughter were missing, would you be worried about what people are saying about you on the internet? would you care? and care enough to sue? I sure wouldn't ... especially before my baby is even found

priorities Billie ...

I am trying to imagine any of these parents suing because someone wasn't nice to them.

Kyron Horman
Natalee Holloway
Somer Thompson
Elizabeth Smart

Really. I am trying to picture in my head hearing Desiree or Beth say "That reporter said mean things about me, so I'm going to sue. Yeah, I know my child is still missing but they were not NICE to ME!"

Any legal action taken in these cases was to find the missing child or protect the other children.

I don't think Billie can spin this to convince anyone she is using it to find Hailey or protect Hailey's siblings.

 

[Velouria]

Oh PH would have a field day with this one. What about that pesky little deposition she'd have to endure? What true harm did it cause? I would be much more worried about the child allegations than anything PH said. What harm has it caused her? She's obviously still comfy on someone's couch. She's not working - is this keeping her from getting a job, or the fact that her drug charges may be responsible for that. Her own actions cause us to make judgements, it's our constituional right. Besides, she has to PROVE that SA wasn't fiddling about with Hailey. And from the school video, I still say (IMHO) she looks pregnant. So there you go, BJD - have at it.

in the United States, the person first must prove that the statement was false. Second, that person must prove that the statement caused harm. And, third, they must prove that the statement was made without adequate research into the truthfulness of the statement.

MOO

Mel

Great post Mel! Surely she's not thinking there's a snowball's chance in hell that she could actually see any $$ out of this.

I'm betting the threat of a lawsuit is supposed to scare Peter Hyatt "a little bit" into keeping his mouth shut, and that's a bet Billie is going to LOSE.

 

[TexasTNT]

"It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Mark Twain

 

[grandmaj]

I don't know I think there would be more strength in a threat to sue, if the lawyer got the man's occupation and state of residence correct. Maybe he needs to do his homework more thoroughly.

 

[Chili Fries]

I'm not a fan of Peter Hyatt and I think he's stepped way over what I consider the line a number of times. I've posted before that there seems to be no scientific underpinning to what he does, and I believe if he were really a critical thinker he would be more circumspect.

In another missing child's case I would be in the parent's corner on this. However, this is Billie and, like others have posted, I think she's done much more damage to her reputation than any internet opinionator could.

 

[Donjeta]

Regarding damage to her reputation, I wonder if they really thought this through. The threat to sue may influence people's thoughts differently.

They may think,
A) Gosh, there's a man who says horrible things about Billie Jean Dunn. Billie Jean says he is lying and she's gonna sue. So what the man said must never have happened. I'm gonna tell all my friends I think BJD is innocent of any wrongdoing.
*saves her reputation*

B) Gosh, there's a man who says horrible things about BJD. I've never heard of him before.
*googles his blog*.
*reads his blog*
Oh wow, some of it totally makes sense. I'm gonna tell all my friends what this man said about BJD and see what they think.
*goes on to make sure that more people hear about the opinions that BJD objects to*
*ruins her reputation some more*

 

[AliceInPain]

Ugh, I think that man is vile... I'm glad he's being sued and I don't care by who.
She'll get what she deserves, when time is ready... JMO

 

[RavenTrue]

I call ridiculous. Settlement? Donations must be slow.

 

[Knox]

I'm not a fan of Peter Hyatt and I think he's stepped way over what I consider the line a number of times. I've posted before that there seems to be no scientific underpinning to what he does, and I believe if he were really a critical thinker he would be more circumspect.

In another missing child's case I would be in the parent's corner on this. However, this is Billie and, like others have posted, I think she's done much more damage to her reputation than any internet opinionator could.

I think Mr. Hyatt's opinion's are interesting to read. Do I agree with everything he writes, nope. But I never agree with anyone's opinions 100% of the time.

You nailed it Chili Fries, Billie has done more to damage her own reputation than any of the internet commentators combined. The most damaging imo, is continuing to profess her love for Shawn Adkins and repeatedly telling us she is not contacting or in contact with LE. What parent of a missing child is not in constant contact with LE; demanding updates, answering questions, suggesting people or scenarios to investigate?

Then I have to ask myself why Billie and her Attorney are so concerned about what Peter Hyatt is writing? His blog is something you would have to seek out to read, it's not a national newspaper with glaring headlines. He's a peon really, a tiny fish in a huge pond. By speaking out and threatening to sue him, they are subliminally giving him credence. Is what he is saying the truth and it struck too close to home?

The kicker for me ... In the last news piece, she suggested that most of the area's had now been searched. It sounded like she felt the need to search was over "let's just hand out fliers now". That statement she made long ago came to mind. Every day Hailey is not found is a good day.

 

[dodie20]

I've been keeping up with the Haleigh Cummings case for over 2 years, and it's draining to say the least. So, I just don't think I have it in me to invest my heart into another case with so much turmoil...where the 'loved' ones, create so much unnecessary drama. So, I wait days and days and then muster the courage to check on Hailey and then I brace myself for the worst...and this ridiculous drama is what I see. BD still running circles and going round and round. good grief.

 

[Tugela]

I haven't listened to his show and I've no idea if there is anything sueworthy there but they quote this objectionable example:

Peter Hyatt, who hosts an internet radio show, said this week: "I believe Billie Jean Dunn caught her daughter, Hailey, in a sexual act with Shawn Adkins and tempers exploded resulting in injury and eventual death to Hailey."

While I wouldn't like to hear this if my daughter was missing and I understand why no parent would, "I believe" indicates this is just his speculation of what happened, not a fact. Can a person be sued for expressing their speculations and theories of what could have happened in an open criminal case? If yes, boy, aren't a lot of Websleuthers in trouble...

I think the way it works is that you can't make a damaging statement of fact without anything to support it. Putting "I believe" in front of the statement of fact doesn't protect you. The statement (if he indeed made that statement) would be appear to be damaging since the allegation involves specific illegal acts by specific individuals, and apparently without a shred of evidence to support that, belief or otherwise.

As far as what people say here on WS and other places, yes they need to be carefull about what they say when they start making specific allegations. It is allways possible for the person they are defaming to get a lawyer, find out who they are and go after them for damages. Of course it takes money to do that, and thus it likely won't happen in most cases, but it can and has happened in the past. I remember there was a case a few years back involving some former model (IIRC) that was being defamed anonymously on a gossip website. She got a subpeona to force the website to hand over the real name of the person (who turned out to be someone she used to know), and then sued them. Mostly the people being discussed on WS don't really want to stir things up or have to appear in court to defend themselves, so they won't press it, but if it happens that one of these folk are actually innocent and get sufficiently pissed off, then watch out!!

When you post about individuals you need to either sure what you say is true or that it is a reasonable conclusion given what is publically know. Failing that you need to be vague/general enough that it is obvious that you are not making a specific allegation.

 

[Soulmagent]

His I believe statement ,makes that statement his opinion. I think , I thought, I believe and IMO are all things that let a reader know that that point of view belongs to the person who thinks or thought or believes it. It doesnt imply it is true nor read as a statement of fact.

If someone said something like " Her Boyfriend raped her daughter"

That leads the person hearing it to believe it is true and the person saying it is stating it as fact.

''I think,her boyfriend raped her daughter'' That lets the person hearing it know it is that persons personal opinion.

I dont know whats on his blog as I cant stand him myself. I giggled when Billie called him the name she did and hung up.