[zorpner]

Thiel's intent was to bankrupt Gawker by secretly funding many cases such as the Mother Jones example. Again, he got lucky with the Bollea case (not only in that it was quite egregious, but that it provided an excellent framework to recruit unwitting members of the public to his defense by exploiting our cognitive tendency to break conflict into false dichotomies -- being anti-Gawker doesn't mean I'm pro-Thiel).

Are you in favor of or against someone secretly funding multiple lawsuits in order to destroy a company producing negative press about their investment vehicles? That's the question that actually matters.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

>Are you in favor of or against someone secretly funding multiple lawsuits in order to destroy a company producing negative press about their investment vehicles?

Do the lawsuits have merit or not? If they do, the source of funding or motivation or secrecy is clearly irrelevant.

[zorpner]

Is your assertion that lawsuits are decided fairly regardless of the amount of money each side is able to invest?

the source of funding or motivation or secrecy is clearly irrelevant

You should read about the history of champerty and maintenance in common law.

[GrumpyYoungMan]

>Is your assertion that lawsuits are decided fairly regardless of the amount of money each side is able to invest?

Obviously not, or Bollea wouldn't have sought Thiel's funding. Are you sure you that's the argument you intended to make? :)

>You should read about the history of champerty and maintenance in common law.

As a matter of fact, I have. I'd be very concerned about both champerty and maintenance ... if I were a wealthy British nobleman living several centuries ago. Those laws were deemed unnecessary in the modern era and repealed. It's just plain silly to bring up stale history.

[zorpner]

Yes, obviously, since the injection of wealth into a lawsuit produces unfairness. You're playing dumb, and it just makes you look dumb. Those who forget the lessons of history, etc...

[jimmydddd]

I would think that typically, a corporation has a large financial advantage over the individual in a potential lawsuit. For example, if they published a video of mine, I wouldn't even be able to pay enough to hire attorneys to file a lawsuit. It could be argued that Thiel was just leveling the playing field.

[loteck]

Whether a lawsuit has merit or not is a big part of this issue. A lawsuit can be brought against you with or without merit. Getting to the point where a determination can be made on that question can be very, very expensive for you. Can you afford it? If not, your opponent may be able to ruin you regardless.