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MNHQ

Update on the Gina Ford legal situation

732 replies

JustineMumsnet · 25/02/2007 19:58

Hello all,
Some of you may have seen a Gina Ford interview in the Mail on Sunday today, in which she refers to the Mumsnet legal situation, so we thought it was only right to update you as to where we are.

We are due to go to mediation on March 7th. Our position with regard to this hasn't changed - since very early on in the dispute we have suggested mediation as a sensible way forward and so we are pleased to be meeting with Ms Ford and her lawyers on March 7th.

In the meantime GF has issued a claim form, which means that the court clock is now running and we have to put in our defence within 28 days.

Obviously, as Ms Ford has made clear by this action and by her statements in the Mail on Sunday if mediation fails, she intends to sue.

We're sorry that we are still having to ask you not to discuss Gina Ford or her methods but given the potential for something that may be used against Mumsnet to slip through, this probably remains the safest course of action.

We will, of course, keep you fully updated.

Thanks for all your support.
Mumsnet HQ

OP posts:
CheesyFeet · 26/02/2007 09:32

Oh there are sooooooooo many things in that article that make me .

Good luck MNTowers, will be thinking of you all next Wednesday

olivo · 26/02/2007 09:32

good luck MNHQ.
as many others have said, MN has been a godsend to me in the past year.

itsmeNDaveP · 26/02/2007 09:29

I'd assumed that the apparent radio silence from both sides on the issue in recent months meant that it had all died down and the case had been dropped (i.e. GF had decided that she and her 'people' had made their point).

Good luck MNHQ, may free speech win the day

boredwithwaitingforminiMOSSY · 26/02/2007 09:26

Good luck MNHQ!

jampot · 26/02/2007 09:23

good luck MNHQ

Bugsy2 · 26/02/2007 09:21

Will be thinking of you on 7th. Hope you have a superb legal team.

DonnyLass · 26/02/2007 09:21

in terms of the mediation ... would it help if mnetters made formal contibutions about the value and overall benevolence of the site as a service ...

if there are some 75k members with 10fold logging in ... thats weighty 'evidence' about the need for mumsnet

and we could do with real names if that culls criticsm about that?

maybe not -- just a thought ...

i'd be happy to state

BarefootDancer · 26/02/2007 09:20

Does anyone know what is, in fact, the legal situation if we are free and strong-minded in our discussions and criticise named people (recently a couple of authors spring to mind for some reason). From the Mumsnet sign-up agreement it seems we could all be sued. Is that right? If so, then do we need to be more cautious before launching into the kind of free discussion that would happen in a pub?
This is from the Mumsnet registration agreement on this site:
"The posting of defamatory or otherwise illegal comment or material, contravenes our Talk Board policy is not allowed. ... Members should also be aware that such activities may subject them to civil actions or criminal penalties."

sockmonkey · 26/02/2007 09:19

Good luck mumsnet. You have all our support!

Marscentio · 26/02/2007 09:18

Just remember Justine..... like they do in all the best law dramas.

The Defence would like to call...

Aloha
Anorak
Beep
Cod
Droile............

I think you get the picture!

MascaraOHara · 26/02/2007 09:16

Good luck MNT!!!!

Can't write anything else for fear of making the whoel situation worse.

In my head I am reapeating the phraase "if you can't say anything nice..."

Justaboutmanaging · 26/02/2007 09:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Judy1234 · 26/02/2007 09:00

Even if you have free help but lose you still have to pay most of the other side's costs so a modest unjustified pay off on a mediation followed by an agreed press release which gets both sides what they want might be the safest option.

LucyJones · 26/02/2007 08:58

So if you don't make a public apology Mumsnet gets sued
Can't see how mediation will work as it seems very clear about what she wants

DominiConnor · 26/02/2007 08:57

What happened about the large multi national City/American law firm that offered free help ?

themaskedposter · 26/02/2007 08:56

Good luck Justine and all at MN!!

batters · 26/02/2007 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Blandmum · 26/02/2007 08:55

and also from me.

God alone knows how I would have coped over the last three months without the support of all you wonderful women (and the odd man!)'hiding' behind silly names.

I cannot begin to say what I feel about this action, for all sorts of legal reasons!

Hulababy · 26/02/2007 08:52

Good luck.

From a MNetter hiding behind a silly name, enjoying free advice, chat and friendship!

schneebly · 26/02/2007 08:45

Thanks for the update Justine - all the best!

DonnyLass · 26/02/2007 08:42

tutter and mhnq

was trying to be funny -- obv failed miserably

mental note made

taylormama · 26/02/2007 08:41

thanks for the update and wishing you all loads of luck - you go girls!!!!!

LRWG · 26/02/2007 08:37

Good luck!

Pixiefish · 26/02/2007 08:31

Hope it all goes well on the 7th

Ulysees · 26/02/2007 08:29

Sitting on hands, biting tongue and now going to have to drug myself into a coma so as not to comment That article!!!

All the best to MN towers, you don't need it though as I have a good feeling and I'm psychic you know?

All those experts can't be wrong and by that I don't only mean the mothers.