Hundreds who posted views on sex assault trial targeted

The WFAA reporter characterizes the comments as "too graphic to be included in this story."  I imagine anyone who has ever browsed mainstream internet forums have run across the same kind of thing. 

I'm certainly not defending the comments made on this particular forum.  But, it truly bothers me to find out that commenters can be sued for making supposedly anonymous comments.

Still, the burden of proof will be on the plaintiffs, and absent malice, the case is by no means a slam dunk.  But who know how a sympathetic jury may rule?  And, what effect would such a ruling have on blogs and forums? 

We shall see.