Devenyns v. Albero, No. 22C09001273 (Md. Cir. Ct., Wicomico County filed July 24, 2009).
Status: Summary judgment motion pending.

Wicomico County Detention Center director Douglas Devenyns sued Joseph Albero over an anonymous comment posted on his Salisbury News blog site (sbynews.com) claiming that Devenyns is a "sexual predator," who shortened the sentences of female inmates who had sex with him.

While Albero would normally be exempt from liability for comments posted to his site by others under section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, the suit claims that Albero lost this protection by selecting which comments submitted to the site would and would not be posted.

On Nov. 30, 2009, the court granted Albero's motion for summary judgment.

Links and Court Documents:
Detention Center director sues blogger (DelMarVa Now, July 30, 2009)
Detention Center director's lawsuit against blogger dismissed (DelMarVa Now,Dec. 1, 2009)