Son had reason to sue mother for posting libelous comments on Facebook
By Stacey W.
I think the son has every right to sue. She has invaded his privacy.
While I would usually say that parents should be vigilant about what their children are posting on the Internet and punish them for misuse, his mother doesn’t even have custody of him. I would assume her past mental health problems will be brought up in court by the plaintiff too.
And if she did indeed break into his email and Facebook accounts, that’s illegal too.
I don’t know if he’s justified with the slander charge since I don’t know what the posts were, but since he was logged into her computer, can it even be proven that she was the one that posted the supposedly slanderous material? And wouldn’t the appropriate punishment for speeding be to take away his car??
JurisFiction 
I also agree that the son has a right to sue if he so chose. As a mother she has the right to take away his facebook privleges, however hacking onto his account to change things that may damage his reputation is different. Libel written that may harm or damage someones reputation is against the law. Therefore if the son wanted to sue, he legally has that right.
John M.
April 12, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I agree. The ambiguity regarding the posts is problematic. Was what was said actually slanderous? That will be for the courts to decide. The main point here is that the mother does not bear custody of the minor, thus making this situation an invasion of privacy.
Joe D.
April 14, 2010 at 2:05 am
I agree the son has every right to sue if he chooses. The mom could have easily just taken the facebook away from him. But when she decides to take matters into her own hands to put things on there about him that aren’t true, that falls under libel. So by law since his mother wrote something that could potentially harm his reputation he has the right to sue his mother if he chooses.
John M.
April 14, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I say just fast track this one to the Supreme Court.
John P
April 14, 2010 at 4:55 pm
While the son should have respected his mother, she is invading his privacy and will most likely lose her son’s trust. Losing her son’s openness and confidence will probably be the most hurtful thing to her in the long run regardless of the court’s decision. By law the son can sue. Although, he might want to take the higher road and not deal with the government because his mom could potentially be more hurt and embarrassed by her son’s mature decision.
Emily C.
April 15, 2010 at 1:40 am
Although his mother seems a bit deranged in her obsession of his personal matters,a 16-year-old child, under law, is not legal, therefore his legal guardian has every right to censor anything she might consider unfit and damaging to her child. While she may have went about things the wrong way, I am not sure that her son has a real case here–that is unless his grandmother is considered his legal guardian due to the mental state of his mother.
Oscar P.
April 16, 2010 at 8:37 pm