Woman takes ex-boyfriend to court over his anti-abortion billboard

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story
By Eric W. Dolan

A New Mexico man was taken to court for harassment and violation of privacy by his ex-girlfriend for putting up a billboard that said she had an abortion against his wishes.

The Associated Press reported that the billboard reads, "This Would Have Been A Picture Of My 2-Month Old Baby If The Mother Had Decided To Not KILL Our Child!"

A domestic court official ordered the billboard to be removed, but 35-year-old Greg Fultz said that decision violated his free speech rights.

His attorney claimed that although the billboard might be offensive or distasteful, it was still protected speech under the First Amendment.

The attorney for his ex-girlfriend alleged that the billboard invaded her client's private life and caused severe emotional distress.

A friend of the woman said she had a miscarriage, not an abortion.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/06/07/woman-takes-ex-boyfriend-to-court-over-his-anti-abortion-billboard/

[Liberal Veteran]

1. And hopefully a restraining order as well.

What he did was all kinds of wrong.

[Warpy]

6. If it was, in fact a miscarriage

She can sue him for slander. She can pick him clean so he'll never be able to buy any more billboards.

And she might even prevent him from doing it to someone else.

Accusing someone who has had a miscarriage of murder is lower than low.

Even Gingrich hasn't been that low. Yet.

[left coaster]

10. Even if it were to turn out that the woman had an abortion..

..it's a legal medical procedure, and her right to medical privacy should never have been violated. That guy is a real creep.

[bahrbearian]

19. Murder, Really? Don't look now but your tea bag is showing.

[liberalhistorian]

26. I think he was referring to what the idiot

with the billboard was claiming, since the billboard says that "this would be a picture of my two-month-old baby if its mother had not decided to kill it."

[Warpy]

40. Have you seen the billboard, dear?

I suggest you look. He complains that she "killed their baby."

I'm afraid something is showing on you and it's not as benign as tea.

[bahrbearian]

44. Sorry , I miss read your post,

[Warpy]

45. No problem!

Gawd knows I've done that enough, myself.

[gkhouston]

27. He'll likely find some weasel of a lawyer who will argue

that a miscarriage is a spontaneous abortion. That's true, but it's not common parlance, and not what the billboard implies. It's also involuntary.

[LeftishBrit]

41. The billboard doesn't just say 'abortion'; it says 'decided..to kill our child'

[hlthe2b]

2. I hope she prevails... or we lose all rights of privacy.... n/t

[lolly]

3. And I hope he never has a child

He's not looking good for "Father of the Year" with that nasty, vindictive streak.

[Maru Kitteh]

11. The stuff he posted to twitter looked positively homicidal.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. I saw the tweets. He is toast. -nt

[BlueIris]

15. For real, lolly.

The "man" in this equation is a sad waste of resources, if you ask me. The thought of that kind of monster fathering children is just sickening.

[Orrex]

4. She should put up a billboard complaining about Greg Fultz's tiny penis

After all, according to his attorney, although the billboard might be offensive or distasteful, it is still protected speech under the First Amendment.

[Dreamer Tatum]

24. It was evidently big enough for her at some point. nt

[Maru Kitteh]

38. Not necessarily, lol. It only takes once! n/t

[Hosnon]

5. Telling that a cause of action for defamation wasn't included. nt.

[LiberalAndProud]

7. How so?

[Hosnon]

21. Indicates that her attorney did not think she would prevail. nt.

[Maru Kitteh]

22. Unless you've had a personal conversation with the lawyer, you don't know that at all.

The client may have her own reasons you know nothing about.

[Hosnon]

23. I didn't say I knew it - I said the absence of the claim indicates it.

When such a lawsuit is filed, it's generally a good idea to include anything non-frivolous.

[Maru Kitteh]

31. Then it is only "telling" of your own opinion and speculations. "It indicates" is much different

than "it might indicate" or "it's possible." Words means stuff.

[Hosnon]

34. I know words mean "stuff".

I'm an attorney. And I would include any non-frivolous claim in such a lawsuit (and I have represented plaintiffs in defamation lawsuits - they are extremely hard to win unless nearly undeniable).

ETA: "Tell" and "indicate" both express similar concepts: suggesting/revealing.

[Maru Kitteh]

35. I get that you were trying to speak from authority.

You make a living in part by manipulating language and crafting your words carefully. Got that.

My purpose is to bring light to the fact that you do not know why defamation was not brought, you have a personal opinion, be as it may informed by personal experience, it remains an opinion.

[Hosnon]

37. I wouldn't consider it a personal opinion.

I'd consider a professional opinion.

Libel/slander is one of the first causes of action that would pop out at me. I don't think it would be a frivolous claim but I also don't think it would prevail. And the absence of the cause of action leads me to believe that her attorney thought so as well. Do I know that? Of course not (but I never said I did).

[Maru Kitteh]

39. Your identity is unverified. This is an anonymous message board. There are no professional opinions

here. For all we know, you play a lawyer on TeeVee. I don't think you do, but I'm also sure you understand how that kind of thing happens here from time to time.

[LiberalAndProud]

42. Defamation for what?

He accused her of having undergone a legal medical procedure. What would be defamatory?

[msongs]

8. was the name of the father and/or mother on the billboard? nt

[pot]

9. What they failed to mention

What they failed to mention is that at the time the young lady was just 18 while the man was in his early 30s. They also forget to mention that this man had been harassing, stalking, bullying and threatening her for the past year. He even made a web page where he was posting pictures he took of her while they were still together and some he took of her while he was stalking her. He made fun of her physical handicap but that was not an issue while he was with her. In the past he would post ex girlfriend's/wife's address/phone number and tell people to harass them. Claims that this girl had sex with him so she is a "WHORE" yet she was a virgin he lied to who barely turned 18. He preys on the young girls on college campuses.

They also forgot to mention that he already had to change the billboard because he created a fake organization that was in her first name.

The man is truly despicable to say the least.

[Maru Kitteh]

12. His tweets were full of fantasies of murdering / shooting / dismembering her.

He is a complete waste of living matter.

[jimmyflint]

14. I was just disgusted

But after reading your post I am horrified. I hope the girl stays safe, that guy sounds dangerous.

[LiberalAndProud]

16. Has this been reported? Where?

[LadyHawkAZ]

17. He has a "girlfriend application" up on his website

http://www.greg.fultz.com/gfapp/app.html

Guy really seems to hate women.

[cutlassmama]

18. I felt like ticking all of the options just to see what would happen

I especially like the "beached whale" option. His opinion of women is lacking to say the least. The fact that she actually slept with him is disturbing. The fact that ANYONE EVER slept with him is also disturbing. I doubt that anyone ever will sleep with him again if they find out what he did. Hopefully, this is out there enough in the media that his chances for procreating are slim to none. I can't imagine having THAT as a father. The woman did the right thing by having an abortion. Having to be tied to him for the child's lifetime would have been horrific. She basically had no choice.

[gkhouston]

30. He may not have always been this obviously messed up.

Years ago, a friend of mine was involved in a messy divorce. I helped her in several ways, but the most useful thing I probably did was inadvertent: I'd known her husband longer than she had, and could remember when meeting him wouldn't set off "Danger, Danger, Run Away" sirens. While others were telling her she was better off without him (true), I could truthfully tell her that he possessed good qualities and had at one time seemed like a good choice.

[liberalhistorian]

28. Are you sure that's not a joke someone's playing on him?

I just cannot imagine even the most disturbed person coming up with that in reality and taking it seriously.

[LadyHawkAZ]

43. The site's been up for awhile

his "about me" page links to a profile on plentyoffish too. It claims the application is a joke and it probably is, but put together with the billboard, it adds up to a guy with some pretty scary issues.

[Le Taz Hot]

20. Among other things,

wouldn't his actions be a violation of HIPPA?

[Maru Kitteh]

25. Not unless he is a health professional who provided her medical care.

HIPPA applies to providers, staff and institutions who provide care and/or handle your personal medical information - it does not apply to greasy, sleazy ex-boyfriends.

[Le Taz Hot]

29. Then I learned something today.

Thanks! :hi:

[Maru Kitteh]

32. Your welcome! Wouldn't it be nice if there *was* a law that said that nobody could reveal your

personal medical information without your consent? I think our medical info should be absolutely sacred.

[Cid_B]

33. and absolutely unenforcable...

I can't even imagine what that law would look like.

[Maru Kitteh]

36. You're right of course. Gossip over the fence, etc.

It gets back to the fact that not every wrong can be codified. But just now and then, it would be nice.