According to the Orange County Register, the city of Fullerton, California, has agreed to pay $350,000 and withdraw its allegations of criminal computer hacking against two local bloggers in order to resolve a lawsuit. The settlement brings an end to a heated battle over censorship and freedom of speech. The lawsuit claimed that Joshua Ferguson and David Curlee had obtained computerized personnel files from a Dropbox account that the city had accidentally given them access to, and that they had subsequently published some of these files online. Kelly Aviles, the attorney representing the bloggers, stated that while she was satisfied with the settlement, the dispute could have been avoided. Aviles argued that the city should not have attempted to blame its errors on journalists who were attempting to cover the city. Under the terms of the agreement, Aviles will be paid $230,000, while Ferguson and Curlee will each receive $60,000. The city will also be required to publish a public apology on its website’s homepage. Although no formal charges were filed against the bloggers, the city’s accusations of criminal activity caused them to lose friends and family members. Ferguson was fired from his job as a result. Aviles added that it was a very traumatic experience for the bloggers. The remaining confidential records, which the bloggers do not intend to publish, must be returned to the city as part of the settlement.
The lawsuit against two local bloggers from the website Friends for Fullerton’s Future has been settled by the City of Fullerton for $350,000, and the accusations of criminal computer hacking have been withdrawn. The City Council narrowly approved the agreement on May 12th, ending a heated dispute regarding censorship and freedom of speech. The bloggers in question, Joshua Ferguson and Davi, were accused in the lawsuit…
Tony Saavedra is an investigative journalist who specializes in legal affairs at the Orange County Register. He has been recognized by various organizations for his work, including the National Headliner Club, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, and the Orange County Press Club. His investigations have led to the closure of poorly-run group homes, the discontinuation of a state program that placed criminals in inappropriate public jobs, and the establishment of a civilian oversight office for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, among other accomplishments. Saavedra has covered significant events such as the Los Angeles riots, the O.J. Simpson case, the downfall of Orange County Sheriff-turned felon Michael S. Carona, and the unauthorized drug use by Olympian Carl Lewis. He has been a journalist since 1979, having held positions at various Southern California newspapers before joining the Orange County Register in 1990. In 1981, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University, Fullerton.
