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

[gascelebrations]

The one thing I want to know is, when's the next Dixie Chicks album coming out? It's been forever and that last one was fantastic.

[jeplanet]

Hear Hear.
I couldn't agree with you more!

[LeaveArtieAlone]

I just know "Eric the Actor" is behind this somehow. :-P

[Incumbent]

AHAHAHAHA! When I saw the headline that's the first thing I thought! Actually I thought that one of Eric's whores was suing Natalie for saying she only slept with Eric for the publicity.

[AdamAnt12]

The guy, Misskelley, CONFESSED!!! Come on people, you don't CONFESS to something like this unless you are GUILTY!!!!

Maines and the other "celebutards" like her to need to keep their BIG noses out of things like this. They are NOT doing justice for ANYONE that deserves any kind of sympathy from the American people. These thugs are CHILD- M o l e s t e r s and child- k i l l e r s!!!

[RightWingRadical]

Exactly. But you forget, a Dixie chick is on the side of the convicted child r.apist/mu­rders.

There is no way facts can compete with a Paris Hilton or Brittney Spears in America, especially on the far left.

[ZTB]

RightWingRadical and AdamAnt12.­....

A match made in heaven.

Again, ignorance is bliss.

[ZTB]

Misskelley is mentally challenged. He has the metal capacity of a young child, and clearly,
he was coerced. You are sooooo off base here. Obviously making blind comments on a
situation you know nothing about.

Ignorance is bliss.

[RightWingRadical]

If only I could get a penny for every convicted criminal that said they did what ever crime they did because they were mentally challenged or insane.

I would be able to bail out everyone in America!

[RoloTomassi]

Try opening a book and reading--but I guess that requires that you have more than two brain cells to rub together..­..

Pathetic.

[Evelyn]

Actually, people confess to things they didn't do all the time. Some people come forward on their own volition and confess to crimes they couldn't possibly have committed. The police know all about this and discount it. But many people also confess under interrogation. One of the most famous cases is the "Central Park Jogger" case, in which 3 teenage boys confessed, and later DNA evidence showed that they didn't do it. Look it up.

[RJII]

Geez, are you living in a gingerbread house in La-La Land. I bet you also believe justice is blind and everyone on death row is guilty.

[hortonhearsawho]

Headline: Kid passes thrid grade. Kid did nothing wrong, wants millions.

[Jazzineva]

If Natalie Maines should be sued and is supposedly liable, then so should each and every one of the people supporting those convicted, probably hundreds by now. But I find that direction to be ludicrous because all of them honestly believe they are telling the truth. As far as I know, though I'm sure not a legal expert, defamation claims are only won when they sue someone who knowingly spreads a lie. Since that can't be proved, I'm guessing the suit doesn't have a chance. More important than anything is that the real truth comes out - and if there is new evidence to the contrary of what was found in the past, it definitely deserves to be heard. I thank Natalie for supporting that premise no matter what happens.

[levibatgirl]

Their story is compelling.

After viewing the video from the local news station on this it sure sounds that they were railroaded.
There was a cr@zy fear of satanic cults at that time and I can only imagine how it played out in the south.

With absolutely no evidence to connect these three teenagers to the murders the prosecutors hung their argument entirely on long haired somber teenage drop outs who listened to heavy medal music.

Now they have DNA evidence found at the crime scene of a stepfather and his friend who were seen together that day.

[AdamAnt12]

In this story, it says that they CONFESSED. How is this being railroaded?

[Milash]

They were probably interrogated non-stop for many many hours and due to sleep deprivation, fear and threats, confessed under duress. Watch the video and find out for yourself.

People can't think straight when they're pushed to the brink.

[jtmoney]

It's convience. That being said, the confession was by a guy with the IQ of an 8th grader, so the confessions validity is being called into question.

[TakLoufer]

Jivepuppi.com http://www.jivepuppi.com/jivepuppi_home.html has a pretty extensive look at the case. I think the WM3 were railroaded and one of the fathers is the true culprit. Deep South, brutal murders of little boys, trio of goth-punks implicated, redneck cops and jury, abusive stepfather of the most-brutalized boy not seriously interrogated = mistrial.

[winningticket]

America has degenerated into a "I will sue you" society. How many Americans sue for a living? A lot I bet!

[jtmoney]

I can't really say that I blame this guy. He has not been charged with anything. If Natalie Maines wants to rally on behalf of the West Memphis 3's innocence, that's one thing. But to slam a guy that has not been charged is flat our irresponsible at best. She doesn't know a dang thing, she hasn't seen any evidence, she certainly isn't a lawyer. When you are in the public domain, and you open your mouth, be prepared to face the consequence for your actions.

[AdamAnt12]

Precisley. Maines need to BACK OFF with her accusations. She has little to no brain as it is, and I doubt if she has ever had an original thought on her own!!

[RJII]

she was speaking up for the people charged, Ione which is mentally challenged. If she is liable then so is everyone else who spoke up.

[UFGator4Obama]

Poor Maines...s­eriously..­this lady has been through hell the last eight years. With the Bush administration and supporters taking issue with every word the Dixie Chicks say. I'm not a fan, mainly because I don't like country music, but I do like their politics. Plus lets be honest...t­hey're all wicked cute.
www.youngpoorandangry.com

[AdamAnt12]

People like Maines needs to keep her BIG nose out of politics. Didn't she get that message 6 years ago when she was in a foreign country, spouting her anti-Bush rhetoric? I guess even when her POCKET BOOK is involved, she STILL can't keep her mouth shut.

[dutchman]

Sorry to inform you, but everyone in this country has a right to express their views, whether you like it or not. Being a celebrity in no way disqualifies someone from sharing their opinions.

If you don't like what they have to say, don't listen.

[nothingmusic42]

lmao, oh ya, country music black-balled the chicks, because let's face it, the right only cares about free speech when it's rush or bill-o the clown saying something offensive. so the chicks release a new album that blasts country music for it's ignorance and intolerance, and that album sells nearly double what any of their previous albums sold. ya, she sure learned her leason.

[cariintexas]

"people like Maines need to keep her big mouth out of politics", so you can stick your big mouth in, right? We understand you trolls are desperate, but go tell someone who cares.

[Elderlady]

This just proves that anybody can, and will, file a lawsuit about anything.

Free speech is not "defamation" if the words are truth.

This might be the path to a "new trial" that is presently being denied by the Arkansas judge.

This guy is going after what he perceives to be the "deepest pockets."

[writeaway]

The father also qualifies as a public figure.

[RoloTomassi]

My opinion is that Hobbs is trying to get in front of the trouble that's rolling his way; if he gambles and somehow manages to get a verdict in his favor before these cases are taken up to the federal level, then he might stand a better chance of never having to confront the DNA evidence against him in a criminal court. And if he did land a verdict in his favor, it couldn't hurt him financially [and might provide needed funds for future attroney's fees].

And I'm sure the corrupt officials in West Memphis would like to see such a verdict, as it would be a feather in their cap when presenting their oppostion to vacating the original trial verdicts or allowing new trials.

[starcane]

I am definitely not a fan of her music, but I am a fan of Natalie Maines. What I've read about this case indicates to me there was definitely something very wrong in the convictions.

[rollingdivision]

As a famous public figure if you are going to make and publicize claims about people committing criminal acts you have an obligation to be right and able to back it up.

[RoloTomassi]

She can, and eventually [when the cases reach federal courts] their attorneys will do exactly that.

http://www.wm3.org

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

[Igetitnow]

Very gutsy ladies! I admire them.

[Nikola Tesla]

A documentary and a team of Lawyers have made the same claim, yet are not named in the action. Why IS that?

[frantaylor]

Wow, you have it exactly backwards. It is the duty of those who file defamation lawsuits that have the obligation to be right and be able to back it up.

[rektruax]

Not that familiar with this case. However, I will say that once Celebes get involved, and start pouring money into something, it becomes harder to find unbiased information online. The material I did find is full of holes I'll admit. In the event of triple homicides or tough cases with multiple evidence sources, the first call should be to the SBI or FBI. Local elected officials don't have the training for this. I'd hate to think the balance of my innocence rest in the hands of a sheriff. They're politicians, not professional investigators.

[walleymr]

There was a documentary made back in the 90s. 2 if I remember correctly. Both made by HBO

[walleymr]

PS, in those documentaries, the dad doing the suing, kept showing off for the camera crews ...

[RoloTomassi]

Nope, that was John Mark Byers [who is one true drama queen, and abit of a nutcase, IMO]. Surprisingly, now that the new evidence has been made public, Byers has spoken out publicly on behalf of the WM3.

[RightWingRadical]

Look at all the liberals already calling this guy guilty just because some famous person said he is.

None of you know anything so s.hut your mouths, for all we know he could actually be innocent.

Cases shouldn't be tried in the media, and the Dixie chick singer is using her fame/bully pulpit to get the public and a possible jury on her side. This is why I have no fate in the criminal justice system. If he is guilty let the jury decide it, not Nancy Grace (although Like her sometimes) and the Huffingtonpost.

We all know you guys are just siding with her just because she bashed Bush (Not that I'm a big fan of Bush or anything).

[ZTB]

if you knew anything about this case, your comment would be different. Natalie is not the first or the only person to point the finger at Hobbs...no­t to mention evidence that sheds suspicion in Hobbs direction. Baldwin, Echols and Miskelley were railroaded­.....and more think they are innocent than
guilty....­including one of the dead boys fathers, who has come forward in defense of the West Memphis Three. There is a well made documentary on this....I highly suggest you watch it and read up a bit before posting such nonsense.

[bellabeach]

Well said ZTB!

[RightWingRadical]

Look all I'm saying is let the professionals decide it, not people like you and me and a "Dixie Chick". You guys are siting a documentary as you major source of evidence? lol. If a documentary could do that then why is the lady who coerced her young son to kill her husband not in Jail serving time yet? The documentary was pretty "well made" and had "evidence" as well. The Dixie chick will ultimately make things worse by mouthing off, and If this guy is guilty will cause him to get off scott free again.

You liberals were the ones saying OJ was innocent, so forgive me if I'm reluctant to take you people seriously on anything involving the criminal justice system.

[RoloTomassi]

For all YOU know; anyone with any curiosity whatsoever can put their hands on very specific and detailed information about this case.

The trial judge [who also presided over the AR court appeals], and many who are now in much higher postions and have much to lose [as they built their reputations on this case] are fighting to suppress evidence that implicates Hobbs and one of his drinking buddies. The technology to perform today's level of DNA testing did not exist in 1993; from all of the retained evidence for these cases, the only DNA evidence that connects ANYONE to the crime scene belong to Hobbs and his buddy--no DNA evidence was found that could link any of the three convicted to the crime scene.

The strongest evidence presented at trial [there was ZERO credible physical evidence produced] was Jessie MisKelley's confession; this was a confession that took WMPD 12 hours to get right from a guy with a 72 IQ--he was so confused that it took him several days to realize that his attorney wasn't a cop.

This book by Mara Leveritt [an author and investigative reporter in West Memphis] sets the record straight:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Devils-Knot/Mara-Leveritt/e/9780743417600

[AdamAnt12]

This kid has an IQ of 72? Hey, he has a higher IQ than most progressives that COMMENT on this site, I think he is smart enough to know right from wrong.

[justice4juveniles]

"cases shouldn't be tried in the media"

how hypocritical since this is exactly what happened in the case of the WM3. These three boys were painted as guilty before they ever stepped in to the courtroom.

[RightWingRadical]

Hypocritical? I disagreed with it then and I do now. Maybe that's why you didn't get the verdict you wanted? Ever thought about it like that?

Yet you want to make the same mistake again.

Maybe its time you should evolve and stop doing the same thing over and over?

Then again, the law is not were everyone gets cake and candy and are allowed "do overs" until they get the result they want.

grow a brain.

[cariintexas]

and you're here because? Get used to it , in the words of mr. hannity in 2000, we won, you lost,get over it. and how dare You come on this blog and tell any of the regulars to shut up. Get back over to whatever rock you came from under and take your hate with you.

[AverageWhiteMan]

Do the "regulars" own this blog ?
Do the "regulars" get to tell others to shu t up ?