AOL Spam Suit Tossed By Fed Judge

America Online's suit against a group of Florida defendants it accused of helping deliver spam was dismissed last week, attorneys for the defendants announced December 31.

Judge Claude Hilton ruled that Virginia courts, where AOL sued the computer technicians, had no jurisdiction over Florida-based defendants, the law firm Aldo & Oblon announced, despite AOL doing business in Virginia and the spam messages to which AOL objected being directed there.

But AOL told Reuters that Hilton's ruling still left open the chance that the company could re-file with more information in Virginia or in Florida if need be. AOL originally filed the action in April.

"The court's decision is based on a mere technicality," AOL spokesman Nicholas Graham told the news wire. "The legal issue that was decided by the court was how much detail needs to be included in a complaint essentially in order to get the legal ball rolling.

"AOL intends to take all steps necessary to hold these defendants responsible for their actions," he continued, "and is prepared to amend its complaint in Virginia to include additional detail showing these defendants are subject to suit in Virginia. This case is ongoing and the company intends to continue to vigorously pursue all persons it has alleged conspired to send spam to AOL members."