Fund to support Mumsnet through the battle

Its ok WWW - it would be good for an update.

(Im jsut a little highly strung right now - DH has injured himself again so cant move and kids are refusing bedtime!)

Oh I wasn't suggesting they would do it in a kind of vague 'go on then' way JARM, just wondering if we could have some more info, that's all (as long as it's not going to affect any case, obv)

Contribution made.... Good luck MN!

TBH, I dont think Justine and MNHQ would put up a fighting fund if there wasnt the high risk.

Hi Justine, or someone, please can you let us know how big a threat this is atm and what sort of value legal bill you're potentially looking at? Have Foot Anstey confirmed that action is going ahead (or that it has been withdrawn)? I'm not trying to rake anything up but I am interested to know how Gina's lawyers have been instructed to proceed and what the current status is. Absolutely happy to help and donate if the threat is still there, of course - I'd be desolate if this site closed and I think this is an important issue. Thanks.

EXCELLENT, bring it on!!!!!

Pro bono would be unlikely. If this went to court, it wouldn't just be an in-and-out in the county court, but a big performance, and more than would normally be taken on pro bono, by solicitors or counsel.

Also if you go the pro bono route you're not likely to get someone with enough experience to to a good job.

So keep the idea of the fighting fund afloat, if this really is going the distance.

"when cost enters the system of justice, how can justice possibly be described as such"

And therein lies the problem with the current libel laws.

Is pro bono a possibility?

I fully support MN & will do whatever I can to help.

However, I'm surprised & shocked at the number of MNers who believe MN hasn't a chance of winning this case due to lack of funds. What kind of legal system does that suggest? One run by & made for the wealthy, not the just. At the risk of sounding naïve, when cost enters the system of justice, how can justice possibly be described as such?

VladimirllichLeninQV quite like you name
I will happily contribute to this. Hope everybody will help MN.

I would donate something to this cause.

"even if we raised £10k for mumsnet it may not be enough, and thus would be pointless because who is going to pay the rest?"

but ...it might be enough..and therefore is not pointless...plus, hello optimism, MN may not actually lose or it may not get to court but will still be costing shedloads in legal costs to prepare and to get to that point.

just bumping this up to keep it in people's minds.

Worth saying here that demo was cancelled because at such short notice, obviously loads of mothers who all have heavy committments couldnt make it at such short notice. But huge thanks to the many people who contacted me and JARM wanting to attend in person or in spirit. We'll do something more organised soon!

I have never subscribed or payed CAT fees and never will but I would contribute to this.

I agree MFF.

I agree that no one wants to simply chuck money at mumsnet only to find it is not needed and their hard earned dosh is down the drain I know it will pain me a lot to part with what my company will pledge.
But the way I see it is that the money may be needed pretty quickly and working out all the red tape would take time.
If mumsnet is donated a lot of money it will be in the glare of publicity and I'm confident the money would either have to be well spend in the defense of this case, refunded or donated in some form to the cause of freedom of speech on the interent.
I'm prepared to take this view on a leap of faith.

that's my girl.. i've eaten a bowl of fruit, done some work, and now my bezzy mate works here until 7.30pm with me so life's peachy.

P.S. Allie - i dont have any work to do hence my mn'ing.

Have already read an online paper, checked the lottery and the news.....

At the very least, the fund could be used to allow the exhausted ladies from mnhq to have some proper maternity leave, should the legal "battle" not commence.

MNHQ work bloody hard for next to nothing. Im quite happy to fund that, if nothing else. Surely we all acknowledge the difficulties of early motherhood without the threat of legal action?

The fund should be set up, and as far as I'm concerned, MNHQ can distribute it as they see fit.

Should that involve a rather large celebratory get together for the whole of MN..well, all well and good

I am slightly confused - "the lady with no name" has threatened legal action. But maybe she thought that Mumsnet would just capitulate/ pay her some easy money.... Isn't there a big chance that if we just leave her alone, after all the negative publicity that she will just go off and lick her wounds.

Are we raising money to fight the battle if needs be or contribute towards Mumsnets already substantial legal costs (I would imagine). Mark Stephens no doubt costs in the region in of £300 per hour.

I think that before we start raising money we need to clarify what we are raising money for? There has some to be accountability - once the lawyers get involved (an ex-lawyer here) it is possible to rack up reams of totally pointless correspondence.

Not being negative - but I think these issues need to be addressed.

look at you with your fancy name.. do some work vvvvvvvvvvvqqq

Excellent - I think lots of people will contribute to a fund. Not everyone wants to advertise their generosity