While that may help you in the courtroom, the court of public opinion doesn't wait for a verdict. It confuses silence with guilt. Acquittals are less likely to make front pages than acquittals.
When Sued Don't Tweet
11–20 of 118 posts
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#12I'm curious to when/if there are exceptions to this standard advice. When could it be a strategic move?
I can't think of any - I know that having been sued (OK it was my start-up, but I took it rather personally) and it was incredibly stressful and at the start I nearly replied to the other side with communications trying to naively "sort things out" that could have made things even worse. My stress levels decreased hugely when all communication was put into the hands of our lawyers - and it was eventually resolved wit…
Exactly. The desire for communication with the public is mostly based on emotion, not on a rational decision. Lawyers give you rational advice.
Having been involved in a lawsuit last year, even after I won, I still don't dare to publicly talk about it for fear or repercussions. I simply ask myself: what do I have to gain, and what do I have to lose?
Usually the risks and impact of the things I have to lose outweigh the things I have to gain, and it's a good way of making myself shut up.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#13Why is this up-voted? This is basically don't be a dumb-ass 101
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#14I'm curious to when/if there are exceptions to this standard advice. When could it be a strategic move?
Maybe when your position largely depends on the public opinion and will be taken from you before you have a chance to have a trial. Maybe there is no pattern but elected officials, rock stars, often cry out their innocence when being accused of something, while having great lawyers.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#15A possible exception: When you have no means to afford a lawyer and the case is obviously frivolous. Whilst I would nearly always go for shutting up, we've probably all witnessed the David being sued by a Goliath and their only viable action is to make it know and get support. That isn't what's happening here though... but no rule is black and white.
Yes when you have nothing to lose you can afford to not worry about the legal niceties.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#16Perhaps his lawyer okayed his tweets.
Then he should get a new lawyer
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#17I'm confused - was the case of John Carmack cited because his tweets have now been raised in court and have hurt his case? I haven't been following this situation so I've zero context.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#18While that may help you in the courtroom, the court of public opinion doesn't wait for a verdict. It confuses silence with guilt. Acquittals are less likely to make front pages than acquittals.
Does the public care about this? I really don’t think so. This is a case about some boring legalities. I really can’t see it having any impact on how Carmack is viewed.
There are probably many other situation in which that is not the case, but here I really can’t see anything bad happening as a consequence of Carmack not responding publicly.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#19While that may help you in the courtroom, the court of public opinion doesn't wait for a verdict. It confuses silence with guilt. Acquittals are less likely to make front pages than acquittals.
This is true. Sometimes it is better to respond and risk losing in the legal court of tomorrow than stay silent and lose in the court of public opinion today.
Re: When Sued Don't Tweet
#20I'm confused - was the case of John Carmack cited because his tweets have now been raised in court and have hurt his case? I haven't been following this situation so I've zero context.
It's only been a day to two since thise was public, I'm doubtful that they're being mentioned in court.