HOUSTON - A Houston woman who attends Tulane University in New Orleans alleges she is the victim of "cyber bullying" from an anonymous source and has filed a lawsuit.
Tara Wilson claims an unknown individual wrote "demeaning and insulting" things about her in a blog called "Tulane Watch" as well as verbally attacked her on Twitter, according to court papers filed Feb. 26 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas say.
The original petition explains that Tulane Watch exists to "intentionally hurl extreme and outrageous insults at other Tulane students for the sole purpose of causing them severe emotional distress," asserting the author is also a student but does not reside in Texas.
Wilson, a history major who is also a cheerleader and serves on the Tulane Journal of International Affairs, states the blog targets the university's student leaders, including her fellow cheerleaders, a track team member and the student body president.
She says the blogger set his sights on her on Feb. 18 by posting a blog entry blasting her Facebook usage and mocking the pronunciation of her first name.
The defendant, identified as John Doe, then "upped the ante" by Tweeting diatribes about her, Wilson adds.
The suit further shows Doe "decided to take things one step further" as they went after Wilson's teenage sister on Twitter.
Louisiana is among a handful of states that have enacted anti-cyberbullying legislation.
Wilson consequently seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Attorney Richard G. Wilson of Houston is representing the complainant.
Case No. 4:13-CV-521
Lawsuit: Female Tulane student bullied by anonymous blogger
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