Medinex Dismissed Lawsuit Against Anonymous Critics

In 2001, Idaho company Medinex Systems, Inc. sued fourteen John Does who criticized the company on a Yahoo! message board. Medinex alleged defamation, tortious interference with business relationship and wrongful interference with a prospective economic advantage, and then issued a subpoena to Yahoo! in California seeking the identities of their critics without first proving any illegal actions.

On May 7, 2001 the Electronic Frontrier Foundation, along with San Francisco law firm Farella, Braun & Martel, filed a motion in the Federal District Court in the Northern District of California to defend the right of anonymous critics to express their views online without fear of arbitrary disclosure of their identity. On May 21, 2001, Medinex dismissed the suit before a hearing could be held. 

See Medinex v. Awe2bad4mdnx, Case No. 01-7012 (N.D.Ca. May 21, 2001).