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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
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

Bugsy2 · 26/02/2007 09:21

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

jampot · 26/02/2007 09:23

good luck MNHQ

boredwithwaitingforminiMOSSY · 26/02/2007 09:26

Good luck MNHQ!

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

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.

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

Freckle · 26/02/2007 09:34

I do find it sad that the lady in question cannot accept the measures that MNHQ has already taken and desist from further action.

We're right behind you, MNHQ. Hope the mediator can make her see that there is nothing to be gained from prolonging all this.

damodad · 26/02/2007 09:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

squiffy · 26/02/2007 09:40

I will sit on my hands until called to arms.

Having unpleasant things said about you, rightly or wrongly, is infinitely preferable in a just society than having the right of people to say those things removed.

MyNamesNotDaveItsRodney · 26/02/2007 09:46

I do get a warmm fuzzy feeling at clicking the ! button when a newbie starts a woohoo my baby has be fixed by... thread

Lullabyloo · 26/02/2007 09:47

Good luck MNHQ x

Jillyadoodledoo · 26/02/2007 09:47

Good Luck MNHQ. Though I am fairly new here MN has been a godsend to me, and I can't see how you could be held responsible for posts that you deleted as soon as you were aware of them. I would like to offer my fiver for the cause as well, I am sure there are plenty on here who would follow suit.

Jillyadoodledoo · 26/02/2007 09:49

LOL at flame / Rodney

SecondhandRose · 26/02/2007 09:53

Will be thinking of you on the 7th. Made my donation some time ago, don't expect it went far.

Good luck to you all. Democracy and Freedom of Speech are important.

Judy1234 · 26/02/2007 10:02

I thought if you helped pay the costs of a legal action you could be liable for the other side's fees if the person you help loses? Has someone taken proper legal advice on this stuff? Again I might be wrong.

charlieq · 26/02/2007 10:03

VERY BEST OF LUCK TO MUMSNET***
WE SHALL OVERCOME...

Lizzer · 26/02/2007 10:04

Marina, and those of you who remember the first MN meetup: I hope THAT picture of me very INNOCENTLY looking through the clbb about 5 yrs ago won't be being used in evidence!

Good luck MN, be thinking about you next Wed...

morningpaper · 26/02/2007 10:09

How exactly does Mediation work? I keep imagining Justine one side fo the table and SWMNBN on the other side with a wholesome-looking counsellor from Relate saying "And how does that make you feel?"

Hassled · 26/02/2007 10:10

The Mail story was picked up the Guardian this morning -
here

grannycrackers · 26/02/2007 10:15

donnylass - i think that's a good idea -a thread of support for mumsnet, eg "what mumsnet has done for me", maybe in -other-. i'll wait and see if you're going to start it or someone else who's been an mner for longer than me but if not i'll do one in the next hour

Blu · 26/02/2007 10:24

Wishing the MN team, and GF, the best during the mediation process so that we can all get back to doing what MN does best - supporting parents through the hardest bits and making sense of the different approaches, opinions and experiences.

Tortington · 26/02/2007 10:27

good luck

LieselVentouse · 26/02/2007 10:46

She mentions in the article that she wishes MN would do "the decent thing" - what is it that she wants?

WideWebWitch · 26/02/2007 10:53

lol Mp at how does that make you feel