Judge: Blogger not a journalist, gets $2.5 million fine

An Oregon judge has ruled a "blogger" in Montana is not protected by shield laws  from revealing sources because she  is not considered a journalist.

Crystal Cox, a blogger from Eureka, Mont., was sued for defamation after posting online that an Oregon lawyer acted criminally during a bankruptcy case.

Attorney Kevin Padrick was accused of being a thug and thief over his handling of bankruptcy proceedings between him and Obsidian Finance Group, LLC.

During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge, Marco Hernandez, ruled that Cox was not a journalist and, therefore, she is unable to claim the protections offered to mainstream reporters and news outlets.

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