defamation suits suits and hc

"Meanwhile, a retired nurse from Queensland, Susanne Devereux, who lost $50,000 by ''investing'' in Empire Oil & Gas, is now being sued by none other than the directors of Empire Oil & Gas.

Frustrated by the company's management, Devereux and others had made critical comments on the internet chat site HotCopper. Empire directors Craig Marshall, Bevan Warris and Neil Joyce didn't like it. They threatened HotCopper, Devereux and a bunch of their own shareholders with defamation suits.

HotCopper, which is constantly menaced by marauding legal bullies, shut down all comment but the Empire directors kept suing.

Devereux, 68, could not afford a lawyer. She could not afford to fly from Queensland to stay in Perth and defend what she firmly believes to be true statements.

She is now in a fragile emotional state. Despite requests from her and her partner, William Hartman, to postpone the hearing for two months, requests accompanied by two medical certificates, the court is yet to agree to a two-month delay.

Two weeks ago, Justice Rene Lucien Le Miere fined Devereux $440 for not delivering evidence to Empire's lawyer, Martin Bennett, then exacted another penalty for not providing evidence in the format required. Both were paid to Bennett.

The Empire imbroglio is a warning. HotCopper managing director Greg D'Arcy has been forced to shut down discussion on seven ASX stocks: Peninsula Energy, Empire Oil & Gas, Navigator Resources, Artemis Resources, Apollo Minerals, Samson Oil & Gas, and Solagran."
continued

http://www.theage.com.au/business/goose-is-cooked-but-you-didnt-hear-it-from-me-20130315-2g64u.html