Coon
Political commentator Philip Klein recently added a well-known Beaumont attorney to his libel lawsuit, which seeks to force Google to unmask two area bloggers.
Through his companies, Klein sued the Operation Kleinwatch and Sam the Eagle blogs, as well as Google and its subsidiary, blogger.com, on Aug. 26, 2009, in Jefferson County District Court.
Klein alleges Operation Kleinwatch and Sam the Eagle have engaged in a pattern of libel and defamation, invasion of privacy and use of copyrighted images.
On May 6 Klein amended his petition to include Brent Coon as a respondent, seeking to take the trial lawyer's deposition concerning emails sent from his firm, Brent Coon & Associates, to the bloggers.
"Petitioners also seek to depose Shon Hodgeston of Brent Coon & Associates, who sent undersigned counsel an email stating that he was working on behalf of (the bloggers)," the third amended petition states.
"On the same basis, petitions (sic) seek to depose Brent Coon ... since (they) are not aware of any other (bloggers) who work at the law firm."
Coon filed an answer June 13, denying Klein's allegations and demanding strict proof, court records show.
In his petition, Klein claims the bloggers defamed him by posting a parody of Dog Fancy magazine in which he was depicted under the caption, "Fat Men Who Love Their Dogs Too Much."
As the Southeast Texas Record previously reported, on April 15 the Texas Supreme Court overturned a lower court's ruling ordering Google to reveal the bloggers' identities.
According to his petition, once Klein learns the bloggers' identities he will initiate a full-blown lawsuit.
Beaumont attorney John Morgan represents Klein.
Coon is represented by Beaumont attorney Jason Cansler.
Houston attorney Dennis Lynch represents Google.
Case No. E184-784