Alkateeb v. Does 1-15

An Arizona couple brought suit in federal court in New York against numerous anonymous persons who posted negative comments about them on a bulletin board established by a wedding shopping company, and subpoenaed their identities. Several Does filed a motion to quash the subpoena, and Public Citizen filed an amicus brief supporting this motion and urging that none of the other Does be identified until plaintiffs made a stronger showing to support their right to bring this case. Public Citizen argued that, although many of the posts were mean, they were not defamatory, and there was no evidence of falsity. Moreover, there was no showing that the case was properly filed either in federal court or in New York.

The plaintiffs dismissed the lawsuit.