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

[bbbbmer]

Stand your ground, Natalie!!! You 'Chicks' are three of the bravest women of our time, and that you've taken a rational approach toward the innocence of an individual wrongly accused is a very courageous thing! Y'all take care....

[AdamAnt12]

Sure they are, bbbmer. Sure they are ....(ha)

[ShakeYourComplacency]

Good for Natalie. She was a victim of the system, and got blackballed from country radio. She had the last laugh though, and won a grammy. When I saw them play on tv, I thought they were unbelievable, and her sister playing that violin behind her so wickedly, they were really good.

I have no idea about this case, but if it's so public, then why are they only suing a celebrity? The lawyers apparently said the same thing, so what's the big deal. Remember the Ramsey case, the whole country said the parents did it and they didn't sue anyone. I think it's just because it's what Natalie represents, and they want to bring her down.

[Donns]

I am not up on this case, nor a fan of this vocal group. I remember the controversay over their comments about Bush a few years ago and admired their courage in what they did then. If this many people are convinced that there is a different thruth than the courts have arrived at then it certainly deserves another look. However trial by media is not ever a good thing. By all means bring in the best legal minds, on both sides of the issue, and get the truth decided, however it does no good to point fingers and make accusations just to get publicity.

[justice4juveniles]

" by all means bring in the best legal minds"

unfortunately the best legal minds don't come cheap, so that counts out many, many people caught up in the sometimes corrupt criminal justice system, especially the broken public defender system that exists in many, many states. But it sounds good anyway in theory.

[robin50]

"I want people to know I haven't done nothing wrong,"

"I haven't done nothing wrong"

Well gee ain't that a mouth full that speaks plenty?

[Fudgefase]

Double negative. It means I did something wrong. Is that really what he meant to say?

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

It's poor grammar. Stop overanalyzing what she said by her poor language/grammar skills.

[justice4juveniles]

I don't think he's done anything right either.

[erinker]

I didn't think it could be "defamation" if the statements were true.

[samwisegamgee]

Correct. It's called 'the truth defense." She would have to prove that the statements were true to establish an affirmative defense.

[RoloTomassi]

Well, it is indisputably TRUE that new DNA evidence consisting of hairs from Terry Hobbs and his friend were presented to the court; no evidence connecting those convicted to the crime scene was present in all of the retained evidence from the original trials.

So far, the original trial judge [who also handled the appeals] is of the opinion that the Hobbs DNA evidence could have been from casual contact with his stepson, as they lived under the same roof at the time of the murders. I [and many others] are quite skeptical of such findings, as this is in effect asking the judge to find fault with his own previous post trial rulings.

I believe these guys will eventually be exonerated, but it will have to be done at the Federal level, as AR state and local politics are too deeply involved in the mechanics of the case and all the all the appeals made so far.

[romchr]

If ever there was a time not to use a double-negative, it's when you're proclaiming your innocence.

[mattamorr]

If there is strong DNA evidence in the murder of those three boys that points to Mr. Hobbs, then it would be criminally reprehensible for any judge to deny motions for another trial.

[txfriend]

Yes it would be, but if you have a judge or pd who refuses to admit mistakes then you have a miscarriage of justice. I've seen several cases where DNA does not match the person accused of the crime and still the judge will not order a retrial. It's horrible. Some people believe their egos are greater than the law.

[Nikola Tesla]

Happens everyday in America.

[whit4brains]

I saw the documentaries about the West Memphis Three which I believed were called Paradise Lost. To me it looked like Hobbs was guilty of the crimes. I've always felt the three boys were framed for this crime.

[whit4brains]

Oh and I forgot to say that I love Natalie and the Dixie Chicks. I'm not much for country but have all their CDs. They rock!

[amaraya]

You're thinking of John Mark Byers - He was the one who looked guilty in the films (the one whose teeth mysteriously got knocked out when the discovered bite marks on the victims). Since those films came out (and since the DNA was discovered on the hair inside the knot which tied one of the boys up), Byers has recanted and now says he supports the three in prison and believes they are innocent.

http://www.wm3.org

[Ramirez]

dixie chicks... hmmm....

Sounds familar...

[EosBlue]

Empty skirts. It's one thing for Maines to contribute to a so-called defense fund if she believes there has been an injustice. Its another thing for her to use her "bully pulpit" to make unproven claims about another person's guilt in this matter. She should just provide some funds, but other than that, she should keep her mouth shut.

I hope the father sues her ass off.

PS I wouldn't buy one of her records for love or money. And I don't listen the the Dixie Chicks period. Also, I'm wondering how her group gets away with using the word "Dixie" in their name. For any one else, the lefties would be screaming their heads off about a "PC" violation.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

Bitter much?

[Nikola Tesla]

She should "Shut up and Sing"?

[CubanDem72]

Hmmm... I guess once you become a celebrity in this country, you are automatically stripped of your First Amendment Rights?

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

So "Dixie" music is a PC violation?

[cariintexas]

Careful Eos, your rightwing christian values are showing.

[BlueStateMan]

I'm a BIG fan of heres.... but she might be culpable.

[Nikola Tesla]

If the Lawyers are making the same claims, and the Documentary did as well, why only go after Maines?

$$$???

[Azmom]

15 minutes anyone?

[doublels]

If you mean she's looking for 15 minutes of fame....sh­e & the group passed that a LONG time ago

[justice4juveniles]

I think it's a reference to Hobbs, not Maines.

[roybattyjunior]

I have absolute respect for this lady. So much courage...­I love you, Natalie!

[LovingHope]

I love how Natalie always speaks her mind. She is great! I hope this guy doesn't win. Natalie has the right to express her opinion. Natalie: I don't really like Country music, but I really loved you after "Shut Up and Sing".

[fiduciaryatlarge]

I really love the Dixie Chicks also, but it is not a good idea to stand up and accuse someone of murder. She is not privy to the investigation. It sounds like there is a serious problem with the case, but they don't conduct trials on the internet or television. We should be happy that people are bringing attention to injustice but be careful when making accusations.

[RoloTomassi]

The original trials were indeed filmed, and make up the bulk of the first documentary titled "Paradise Lost."

[ScoutandBuckGoodDogs]

I heard this type of thing is tough to prove anyway, mostly for those who are normally in the public eye. This is the least of this guy's worries. Natalie Maines didn't do anything wrong.

[Lerk4]

Natalie Maines rocks both literally and figuratively and she is exercising her rights of free speech, once again.
Keep smiling and singing Nat!