The Peoria, Illinois mayor cost his city $125,000 after venting his dislike of a satirical Twitter post by ordering police to raid the offender’s home. The homeowner Jon Daniel sued in federal court and settled without going to trial. (Gawker, September 5, 2015, by Brendan O’Connor)
The town claimed they could have won in court and only settled to save the city from a long expensive legal battle, but legal experts contend that the Twitter statements were clearly satirical and protected under the First Amendment. (Chicago Tribune, September 3, 2015, by Dawn Rohodes)
The mayor also had Daniel arrested for impersonating a public official in a satirical post but Daniel was never charged. The ACLU pointed out that the law against impersonation does not extend to satire or parody. (Daily Kos, September 3, 2015, by Walter Einenkel)
There have been a number of recent cases pitting public official against citizens posting comments on Twitter meant to be humorous or satirical. (The New York Times, September 4, 2015, by Christine Hauser)