The following are the comments left by each defendant named in Carpenter's suit that she alleged were defamatory and libelous.
Defendant MsLoy: "I have heard enough of this nepotism with carpenter 1 and 2. Call your boe member and DEMAND that one of them leaves it has gone on too long and its tearing up the system no one will discipline her."
Defendant amp72: "...And she is crazy if she thinks they suddenly vanished. Another example of her brushing stuff under the rug to portray a positive image. That's all she is concerned about..."
Defendant amp72: "...AHS has been going down hill not just because of parenting but because the administration has no guts..."
Defendant amp72: "Bad news from Jackson. Word is they are not happy with either candidate, but especially Carpenter. Apparently people were upset before, and now even more after they read articles and comments in this newspaper. Apparently they were not impressed with this public forum or the fact that people here are ready to move him on."
Defendant spdracer90: "To the ‘powers that be' see what a laughingstock Alcovy is?? When are you people (the BOE) going to get it - clean house over there starting with the principal and work your way down... I guess let the animals run the zoo!"
Defendant newtoncountyparent: "...I think the blip about the hiring of friends and family sure did make someone mad at central office - Dennis carpenter, who unqualified wife is running what should be the best high school in the county (AHS) into the ground. None of us should be surprised that the same school board that would sit back and allow Dr. L. carpenter to mismanage AHS would also hold an illegal meeting to try to silence one of its members."
Defendant Watermelonlover: "...The Principal would rather watch things unfold rather than get involved in anything. What is it going to take the school getting investigated before anyone gets motivated enough to help. This is a prime example of LAZINESS. So let's all throw our hands in the air and not care now because we have the sorriest principal in the world."
Defendant Blueeyeddevil: "Why has the school board allowed this conflict of interest to exist. I asked one and they told me the principals report to the superintendent. But principals make hiring decisions all the time and that hiring falls under the deputy superintendent so if that is the case then the whore hiring process is contaminated. Case in point would be that Alcovy High will have preferential hiring or prejudiced hiring in terms of possible nepotism with friends, relations and former counties (check the records even in maintenance) and family. I looked up with the GA School Assn and know of no other county where this conflict is allowed even if the law allows it."
Defendant Beautifulblueeyes: "...Teachers at Social Circle up in arms over Newton Operations guy wanting in our system. Call your board members in Social Circle. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN."
Defendant Satan69: "Yep sounds like conflict of interest is the real problem from Alcovy to central - all systems down while students are not even able to meet with counselors at this school everyone is looking for jobs or gone on trips - I hope Boardwatch is looking at this school when graduation time comes around."
Defendant KBeet: "...The principal at AHS has been off campus most of the year took over one week for one funeral. But if you marry the boss you get food fights and a raise."
Alcovy High School Principal LaQuanda Carpenter has filed a lawsuit against 11 individuals who posted comments about her on stories posted on the Internet.
The comments were posted on a variety of stories posted on The Newton Citizen's website. According to court paperwork filed Wednesday afternoon, Carpenter is demanding a civil jury trial for defamation for libel per se and libel based on harm sustained as the result of defamatory postings on the website.
Defamation is defined as "false and unprivileged spoken words or written publication, which exposes any living person to hatred, contempt, ridicule, or which causes him to be shunned or avoided, or which has a tendency to injure him or his trade or occupation," while libel per se is defined as libel being "clear on its face, without the need for any explanatory matter...a statement that falsely: charged any person with crime, or with having been indicted, been indicted, convicted, or punished for crime; imputes in him the present existence of an infectious, contagious, or loathsome disease; tends directly to injure him in respect to his office, profession, trade or business, either by imputing to him general disqualification in those respects that the office or other occupation peculiarly requires, or by imputing something with reference to his office, profession, trade or business that has a natural tendency to lesson its profits; or imputes to him impotence or a want of chastity."
Some comments complained of nepotism since Carpenter is married to Dennis Carpenter, Deputy Superintendent for Operations at the Newton County School System's central office. Others said that AHS is a "laughing stock" and that Carpenter is "the sorriest principal in the world."
The lawsuit claims that the comments made by all 11 people are false and made with actual malice and that a summons and complaint will be served on each of them "once his or her identity is revealed."
It further states, "The published statements by the defendants were made to expose her to public hatred, contempt and/or ridicule. The published characterizations of plaintiff were made with the knowledge that the statements were false or with reckless disregard for the truth. Additionally, "plaintiff has experienced enormous emotional suffering and damage to her reputation in the community and to her trade or profession as the result of the defendants' malicious blog postings."
She is requesting that a jury award her damages "in the amount to be determined by the enlightened conscience of an impartial jury," as well as costs, expenses and reasonable attorney fees incurred.
According to Clerk of Court Linda Hays, the cost of a civil trial is approximately $3,000.
When asked for comment, Carpenter said she had no comment. NCSS Superintendent Gary Mathews said, "She has not mentioned such a suit to me."
