i'm not trying to get into this debate, but it seems husker_x is arguing that there is no defamation, so no worries. without some form of defamation, there is no liability, and no legal recourse. but the mods have their reasons, so whatever. also, rumors and speculation really is not good for us fanatics that live and die with every word on the huskers, just saying. :moreinteresting
There doesn't have to be rock-solid evidence supporting the allegation to create a problem for the board. All there has to be is enough evidence to get it in front of a judge, and then it starts costing us money in legal fees. The more money the board spends in legal fees, the less likely it is that the board stays up.
if i pass the bar next year, i'll represent the board, pro bono.
Depending on the state, it ain't too bad.
you mentioned that for it to be a first amendment issue, there has to be a state actor. i did not think that was true. could you explain it to me?
i thought that if a person sued someone for saying something or publishing something they did not like, and it was not defamatory, then the speaker would be protected by freedom of speech, i am a little confused.
i know it is more of a torts issue than constitutional issue, but does not freedom of speech protect all non-defamatory speech?
For there to be a constitutional claim of freedom of speech, there must be a state actor. Of course, what constitutes a state actor is a bit more nuanced, but generally, anyone acting in an official governmental position is a state actor.
You are right, the freedom of speech issue is totally different from a defamation/slander/libel issue because those are torts against private individuals. These lightly touch on constitutional concerns, but the standard of proof is so well-established that most defendants focus on the elements of the tort, which are extremely difficult to satisfy.
I completely understand the board's mods/admins not wanting to even tempt the issue by posting rumors, but the chance of a person successfully prosecuting any of those torts (especially since Bo, the coaches, and the players would likely be considered public figures) is next to impossible. Then again, people sue for stupid things all the time and lawyers are expensive.