Dixie Chicks Singer Sued For Defamation

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines is the target of a defamation lawsuit by the stepfather of one of three 8-year-old boys slain in 1993.

Maines spoke out for three people convicted of the slayings and alleged the stepfather was instead involved in the killings.

Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Steve Branch, who was killed in 1993 with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, filed suit in Pulaski County Circuit Court on Nov. 25. The suit names all three members of the Dixie Chicks, but focuses on Maines.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. Hobbs claims he suffered loss of income, injury to his reputation and emotional distress.

Maines attended a Dec. 19 rally in Little Rock, where she claimed Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley _ known to sympathizers as the "West Memphis Three" _ were innocent and that supposed new evidence pointed to Hobbs. Her comments echoed a Nov. 26, 2007, letter that was still on the Dixie Chicks' Web site on Thursday, in which she claimed that new DNA testing of hair from the crime scene linked Hobbs to the killings and that his behavior after the slayings indicated his guilt.

The lawsuit says the claim is false.

Hobbs told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in a Feb. 1 interview that his reputation was in tatters and he wanted to clear his name.

"I want people to know I haven't done nothing wrong," Hobbs said. "I want them to hear it from me."

No lawyer for Maines was listed in court filings and a publicist didn't immediately return a call for comment. Hobbs' attorney, J. Cody Hiland, didn't immediately return a call for comment Thursday.

The lawsuit says Maines' statements were "so extreme in degree as to be beyond the pale of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in civilized society."

Assertions similar to those made by Maines were also made by lawyers seeking new trials for the three convicts.

The boys' bodies were found by police a day after they vanished from their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood May 5, 1993. Police arrested the three after a confession by Misskelley in which he described how he watched Baldwin and Echols sexually assault and beat two of the boys as he ran down another trying to escape. A jury gave Misskelley a life-plus-40-year sentence for the killings. A later jury gave Baldwin a life sentence without parole. Echols, then 19, the oldest of the three, received the death penalty.

The Arkansas Supreme Court later upheld the convictions, but a later documentary sparked interest across the Internet, as well as among celebrities, including Maines, who felt the teens were railroaded by police for their interest in heavy metal music and the occult. Supporters say they raised more than $1 million for a legal defense fund for the three, enough to pay for lawyers, new DNA testing and a second federal appeal on behalf of Echols.

A judge has since denied defense motions for a new trial.

Comments

[ColPash]

What Maines said is fair comment on a matter of public interest. It's isn't defamatory, and this suit should be tossed.

[soupson52]

Profiles in courage, that's what the Dixie Chicks are. Thanks gals.

[Witchitalineman]

You bet.

[Oldbuck]

Well if she is as right on as she was with Bush they may want to lock the guy up. This just a jerk wanting to collect on a law suit. Natalie you go girl tell it like you see it.

[sunnybunny]

Man, the story of the west memphis SIX is one of the scariest things I've ever heard. I'm not sure what part is the scariest, the 3 little boys that were taken from what should have been a very safe environment and the atrocities that were done to them, the 3 older boys who lost their lives because they were different, or the fact that the one(s) who did it are still out there.

[stayinsouth1981]

Well, said.

[wingnutz]

Natalie Maines is one of the most courageous, talented, intelligent voices in America and in country music. She stood her ground against Bush and the war and she was right. Everyone should buy every piece of music the Dixie Chicks ever recorded in support of these women. Bravo, Natalie! Keep up the great work! And to those who say you should be quiet about issues I say: "No, you should be quiet or move to a country where an individual has no voice; really, you'd be happier there."

[NC1432]

It was easy standing her ground on Bush......as all of her liberal buddies backed her up.......making comments overseas about the president is wrong......no matter who the
president is...........she's intelligent......come on.......

[Rachael78]

what's wonderful about his suit is that it will only have the affect of creating alot of publicity and public pressure and will increase the chances that the ones convicted are retried and that this joker goes to jail. oh, l'ironie!

[phinney]

You just know those sisters want to kick Natalie out. She has destroyed what was once a very good and profitable group.

[JLR519]

They still are and will remain to be.

[Mort]

Wasn't her film called "shut up and sing"? Hmmm.....

[stayinsouth1981]

"Shut up and sing," is what they were told to do when Natalie complained that she was embarrassed that Bush was from Texas. No need to be embarrassed, he was nothing but a frat boy who was told that more redneck, illiterates would vote for someone they thought was just like them.

Sticks my tongue out... I went out and bought more copies just to prove their point.

[d00derman]

Joe Satriani is probably behind this lawsuit too.

[Bagger]

Still the only country CD I own. If the Dixie Chicks come out with a new album I'll be sure to buy it again. Love me some Dixie Chicks. Sugarland is another country group I'd buy as well as Brooks & Dunn.

[AntiRepubliCult]

I can see Bush/Cheney getting sued for defaming the USA's reputation, desecrationg the Constitution, and it should be easy to prove the damage!

[tjwdraws]

Can we file a class action lawsuit against the Cheney/Bush Administration?

[dante1959]

i am very busy with this case. the article says tha a judge denied the appeals.
did anyone forget that the judge, now circuit judge, david burnett is the same judge that convicted them and has refuted every single appeal based on his arrogance as a judge.
there are many things that will come to light in this case.
I HOPE THAT THE TRUTH COMES OUT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

[ChiGuy]

Ohhhh, that Natalie.

[AmandaBC]

We're both born middle finger first and we both take no cr@p from blgots.

Love you Natalie, you're like a spiritual sister to me... Give'em he.ll.

[Judyisacutie]

It sounded damning, but not like defamation. She didn't seem to say anything that wasn't evidence in the case, according to this article.

[jeplanet]

OMG, someone who actually READ the article before commenting !!!!!
What a concept !
:)