<<whispers>> Was there ever any clarification about whether the issue with GF was swearing on here?

Dior from Ann Clough yesterday:

"The wide reaching nature of the claim, due to the high number of libellous postings, means that the preparation of the necessary
documents may take some time. However, you and users of Mumsnet should be in no doubt that Gina will take all necessary steps to restore her
reputation and that of her hundreds of thousands of followers, including the issue of High Court proceedings as soon as practicable."

There has not been a public apology yet though has there? Is there any reason why MN haven't? Would they consider doing this?

Carmemere - Is a 'lively hood' something that won't stay on your head in the rain?

It seems really unfair that MN are being hounded, when so many other sites have threads that say similar or worse things than those that have ever been posted on here. Is it because she used to post on here to help people and feels let down? I feel really sad for her that she couldn't just deal with the dituation in a different way. Why is it all taking so long too?

Well I suppose that's better than losing their lively hood and ruining this incredibly valuable website. But does this mean that for the rest of eternity AC is going to be monitoring mumsnet for libelous comments and one of the team here is going to have to do the same - how long is too long exactly too? This is crazy!

If it were that simple, why not just apologise?

They allowed the inflammatory posts I suppose. The way they see it, certain posters posted some inflammatory and vitrolic comments about GF, unfortunately these were seen by them before they were deleted. In their eyes, MN didn't delete fast enough. They want a public apology for this.

They have hinted at a big statement to come soon. So, tell us what they want, and get on with it. We should all stop speculating, because lengthy chats on the issue give some posters the opportunity to write something inadvisable, which might add fuel to GF's fire.

Personally I'm sick of the whole debacle. I hope it all dies a death.

Really Rhubarb? But why, what have mumsnet done?

Apologies, I certainly diddn't mean to trivialise the worry that has been caused by GF to my fellow mumsnetters. I just think that it's unlikely to go to court because the fallout will be too harmful to her reputation. I'm not too concerned about her followers either as they will be too busy looking at their watches to be able to rally any support.

They want a public apology from Mumsnet.

I don't understand why there is a case against MN then - surely by pulling the posts it has done everything it can? You can't take pre-emptive action on an internet talk forum unless you are going to make ALL un-moderated chat illegal!

morningpaper, everything has now been removed, but presumably GF's lawyers or even GF herself have copies of the old threads containing the remarks made about GF personally - otherwise they would have no evidence to made a libel case.

IS it only MN being targetted? I've noticed that a lot of the parenting sites have wiped their GF posts over the last few weeks. Is that just a coincidence?

How long are posts normally archives for at BMC? A lot of their GF posts have gone too as far as I can see.

No idea mp, Ann Clough's message just says "reasonable terms of settlement". I would assume that would include a financial component, but its not explicity stated.

(I haven't seen these spiteful personal threads - am I really naive? I thought anything negative had been removed?)

What I don't understand is that if GF is really pursuing this, why on earth she would be advised to let a website minion make vague and threatening posts announcing her intention to issue court proceedings on the very chat boards that she is allegedly suing. The whole thing is very odd indeed.

Re. a settlement - was MN asked to make a financial settlement?

Yes agreed, althought often libel cases do not get as far as court as the defendents are advised to settle beforehand because if you go to court you risk losing everything. If you settle beforehand then you just end up hopelessly in debt, but still with a roof over your head. And of course the full story never gets heard. Of course it depends on the individual case, and the strength of the case, but libel is the one area of law where the burden of proof is on the defendent. I am very careful on the Tom Cruise threads these days!

Thanks Jimjam, I realise that and as I have no wish to get MN into any further trouble am restraining myself. But as many others have stated, far, far worse has been posted about GF on many other forums so her taking us lot to court seems like a vendetta and as such will (hopefully) be seen as such by any court.

Calisto- seriously you should still be careful. Even without assets you can be made bankrupt which can have a huge effect. I'd really advise being very careful when making any comments on a pulic webforum. It is very easy (because of the informal chat like nature) to go too far and end up in financial deep water.

if you want to knbow how little individuals get sucked into big scary, expensive libel suits read McLibel...:(

My gut feeling is that it is all just sabre rattling from GF and her legal team. I am not too worried as I don't have many assets (my computer, my H plate car) but those who could lose their house have my absolute sympathy.