Adam Miller Says He'll Reopen Bogus Copyright Lawsuit Against Critic, Declares 'War' On 'Communists' Who Mock Faith Healing

from the good-luck-with-that-one,-adam dept

Fri, Sep 11th 2015 6:18am — Mike Masnick

Remember Adam Miller? The so-called, self-professed "faith healer" sued an online critic, Stephanie Guttormson, earlier this year. It was a clear SLAPP lawsuit. Guttormson had taken one of Miller's laughable promotional videos and added some commentary mocking it. You can see it here: That video had less than 1,500 views at the time Guttormson was sued. It now has about 65,000. The main claim in the lawsuit was copyright infringement, which is laughable. It's clearly fair use. The video was used in a non-commercial manner for commentary and criticism. It's easily fair use, and the lawsuit was clearly designed to silence public comment. The lawsuit also made some ridiculous claims, such as claiming that calling Miller's nonsense "faith-based bullshit" is "defamatory" because "Mr. Miller's work does not require a client to hold any faith." Yeah. Let that one sink in for a moment.

Either way, just days after this started getting attention, it appears that Miller and his lawyer realized that this was going to end badly and let the matter drop. As we noted at the time, he dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning that he could potentially file it again in the future. We wondered if that opened up an opportunity for Guttmorson to file for a declaratory judgment, but she announced that she was just going to let the matter drop.

Well... Adam Miller is back and he's insisting that he's going to reopen the lawsuit against Guttormson. Oh, and not only that, he's also launched a new site, FaithWarrior.org where he insists that he's declaring "war" on "anarchy" and a variety of other things, including communism (he insists his critics are all communists), "faith bashing," "cyberbullying," "online harassment" and more. I'm almost wondering if he's signed up Charles Carreon as his lawyer. Carreon similarly declared war on his online critics, after they mocked him for his own SLAPP antics, and he shows up every once in a while to randomly attack those who called him out for his censorship attempts.

Miller's own personal website has been redone -- though parts of it mentioned in the article above appear to have been taken down and replaced with a "coming soon" promotion for a book (which makes it look like Miller thinks all this negative publicity may help him sell books) and the following almost incomprehensible text:

The truth always comes out. Regardless of how many idiotic minds shout in the streets. Faith will prevail and communism shall not rule. And you thought that this was about the healing work... this was just a bait and you have taken it. " Hook. Line. And Sinker. " Every one of you will be exposed. :)

Got that? He's also started posting videos to a YouTube account, where he has one specifically for Guttormson: For a "faith healer" he sure seems pretty angry. It starts out "Hey, Guttormson, ASSHOLE!" The rest of it is also somewhat incomprehensible. After some weird mention of Deepak Chopra (huh?), he says:

So here it is. Just because you have a computer, does not mean that you people are something new. Because 80 years ago, in Russia you same people took over the churches and killed all the priests. That's who you people are and I'm going to take you all down.

I have no idea what he thinks he means by that, but then there's his second video where he insists that he's reopening the copyright case against Guttormson and explains how he's going to war against his critics. In it, he declares that athiests are "communists." He claims "they're backed by the Communist rule. They're put as cells around the country in order to disrupt any kind of belief system." Considering that Miller himself argued that anyone calling his nonsense "faith-based bullshit" was defamatory, you'd think he'd be more careful about making statements of facts about his critics that are laughable.

Then he insists that the lawsuit is back on, though it's not clear he understands the lawsuit he himself is supposedly filing.

My lawsuit is for copyright infringement only.... I am suing Guttormson because he has made ridiculous statements that are completely untrue about a work he knows nothing about. I am now going to reopen that case. We're going to drag this individual into Arizona because he is in Maryland, and we're going to continue the lawsuit. It's very important that everyone follows this lawsuit and understands what I'm going to do to this individual. Because this has everything to do with faith. You see these people are set in this country and they are completely brainwashed again as communist cells and they want to bring communism to America and make sure that we have no freedom of any kind of rights whatsoever.

So much to parse and so little time. If the lawsuit is for "copyright infringement only" as Miller claims, then why does he say it's about "ridiculous statements that are completely untrue"? That's not about copyright at all. That's only true about defamation. And, again, nothing in the original appeared to be either defamatory or infringing. Also, directly saying that you intend to drag someone across the country, and saying it's because you believe she made statements you don't like kind of makes it that much more clear that this is nothing other than a clear SLAPP suit.

Unfortunately, while both Arizona and Maryland have anti-SLAPP laws, they are both super narrowly targeted, only focusing on lawsuits that are about speech regarding government efforts. Yet another reminder of why we need (desperately) a federal anti-SLAPP law.

Also, it seems ridiculous that Miller is claiming that it's Guttormson and others critics wanting to make sure "we have no freedom of any kind of rights" (whatever that means), when it looks like he is seeking to suppress speech through questionable lawsuits. So, again, he's claiming (maybe) defamation while defaming people, arguing that those he's looking to silence are trying to take away all "freedom of rights." So that's two out of the three things that he's claiming others are doing to him that it appears he may actually be trying to do to others. What about the third? Remember how he claimed this is "about copyright infringement only"? Well, the third video that Miller has uploaded to his new YouTube account is a clip from a documentary on the Soviet Union. That seems like it may be copyright infringement, no?

Again, it seems like there's a decent chance Miller is trying to pull a reverse Streisand Effect here. Deliberately picking on those who mocked him in the past, thinking that it will apparently help promote his new book. And, as he says himself, "this was just bait and you have taken it." I doubt it's going to help sell many copies of the book though. Either way, people filing bullshit censorious lawsuits deserve to be called out for doing so.

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Filed Under: adam miller, copyright, criticism, defamation, faith healer, free speech, slapp, stephanie guttormson

43 Comments

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That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 4:47am

Now it all makes sense...
He dismissed the lawsuit previously not because he didn't want to go through with it, but because he hadn't yet reached critical mass of insanity. Now that he's apparently running with a full tank of crazy, it's back to the digital arena, fighting those figments of his imagination for all he's worth.

This is either someone going through a complete and utter mental meltdown for being called out on their ludicrous claims, or the actions of a very confused individual who believes that coming across as nuts and incapable of accepting criticism without flipping out is a good way to build credibility.
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- me@me.net, 11 Sep 2015 @ 8:32am
  
  Re: Now it all makes sense...
  batshit is the bestest kinda crazy
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  - Baron von Robber, 11 Sep 2015 @ 8:40am
    
    Re: Re: Now it all makes sense...
    I'm so inspired to make a Adam "I'm a transexual Hitler groupie" Miller video. :)
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- Jeremy Lyman (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 11:37am
  
  Re: Now it all makes sense...
  Is there some kind of socialized mental health system he could be placed in to get his commie brain chip implanted **woops I meant** the help he needs?
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- Klaus, 12 Sep 2015 @ 6:20am
  
  Re: Now it all makes sense...
  I'm not convinced that this is suggestive of mental health issues. Making a careful reading of his writings, the conclusion I draw is one of massive and frequent intakes of either alcohol or drugs. He's far too self-focussed. Lucid, but dim. And utterly boring; he doesn't make a single point worth remembering. In the short time I'm scribbling together this post, I honestly can't recall his name...
  
  Oh, and I sure as hell won't be buying his book. If it ever transpires, I hope someone has the good sense to connect the output from the press to the input of the pulper.
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Ninja (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 5:24am

I hadn't watched the video the first time but now that I've ................................................................................ watched it I feel a little dumber.

Ahem. Message to Adam Miller: I'm Catholic and you are a fraud. Sue me.
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- Ninja (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 5:26am
  
  Re:
  Btw, the catholic part was to take the "you Communist, atheist devil" argument out of the way. I wonder if he'd say I'm possessed or something?
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  - That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:30am
    
    Re: Re:
    Probably go with the 'No true Scotsman', where you're not a real catholic because you don't agree with him.
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    - Ninja (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:47am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      aha true enough, these types are the worst because everything said is turned into this type of rebuttal.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2015 @ 10:49am
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      Actually wrong, While being a scotsman has no other requirement that essentially birthright or cultural pining while being a Catholic has a very clear doctrine. If you don't believe me go and ask the church might excommunicate you if you fuck up in all the right ways!
      
      Terrible comparison!
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      - nasch (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 11:24am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        while being a Catholic has a very clear doctrine.
        
        That doesn't mean it's impossible to commit a No True Scotsman fallacy about a Catholic, it just means it may be possible to state "that person is not a true Catholic" without committing the fallacy. It depends on the reasons for making the statement.
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      - ryuugami, 13 Sep 2015 @ 12:54am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        This may be the first time I've seen a "No True 'No True Scotsman'" :)
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:30am

I haven’t seen a religious person get that angry since the Westboro Baptist Church.

And this guy is more impotent than they are.
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Paul Renault (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:40am

Maybe Adam Smith is a graduate of the...
..Evelyn Woodski Slow Reading Course

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/77/77ewoodski.phtml
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DOlz (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:47am

at second 42, "...all they do is take shit throw it on the wall and hope it sticks."

Mr. Miller, my question to you is, did you stick?
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Oblate (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:48am

Faith what?
It seems like he's trying to use "faith-lawyering", as if he believes hard enough that he has a case, somehow (magic?) he will actually have a case.

Ironically, based on some of the other stories that have been posted here, and unlike his faith-healing, there may be some basis for this.
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- Techanon, 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:56am
  
  there may be some basis for this.
  Sue hard enough and hope it sticks?
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Capt ICE Enforcer, 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:53am

US Government Intervention
I ponder if the US Government is going to send the military forces in order to stop this war in America. I would be fearful of a drone strike coming soon.
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Padpaw (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:58am

Making blanket statements like that is a very good sign this guy has lost whatever marbles he had to begin with and is just lashing out at everyone around him now.
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Adam Steinbaugh (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:17am

Defense fund
Guttormson apparently donated the fruits of her last legal defense fund, as she had promised, when Miller dismissed his initial suit following widespread criticism and attention to the matter.

Now that the attention (and defense fund) has faded, he's again harassing Guttormson with the threat of vexatious, frivolous litigation.

Guttormson has a second defense fund here.
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- That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:25am
  
  Re: Defense fund
  If he follows the same tactic this time, and drops the case once it looks like she won't just fold, I think rather than donating the money to a charity she should use it to file for declaratory judgement to keep him from trying this until she can no longer defend herself.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:31am
    
    Re: Re: Defense fund
    She needs to do that in the first place. His insanity is leaking into the legal world and it just makes everyone worse off for dealing with it.
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    - That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:42am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Defense fund
      I think she just grossly underestimated just how nuts the guy is, and thought, erroneously as it turned out, that once he realized that he was picking a fight with someone willing and able to fight back he'd back down and drop the matter.
      
      Turns out that wasn't the case, so now she needs to make sure that he can't just drop the case and refile constantly as a harassment and silencing tactic.
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      - tqk (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 10:38am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Defense fund
        Turns out that wasn't the case, so now she needs to make sure that he can't just drop the case and refile constantly as a harassment and silencing tactic.
        
        At which point he claims martyrdom: "See? They're out to get me!" Sadly, there's plenty of sponge brains out there who'll line up on his side (cf. Kim Davis).
        
        I'm hoping he's looking a massive coronary or stroke straight in the eye in the not too distant future; evolution in action. It's getting very tedious having to share my planet with the likes of this.
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        Anonymous Coward, 13 Sep 2015 @ 3:16am
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Defense fund
        Personally I wish him no ill will. I do however wonder if he has already had a stroke or some other condition that left his brain deprived of oxygen for a bit too long. I am being serious here.
        
        I am not a Guttormson fan either however. But this guy is a much bigger detriment to his own causes than she is to hers. He is so full of hate and lunacy that I find myself squarely behind her.
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  - sophisticatedjanedoe (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 6:56pm
    
    Re: Re: Defense fund
    He can't: there is a two-strike rule, which means that the second dismissal is adjudicated on merits, i.e. with prejudice.
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    - That One Guy (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:34pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Defense fund
      Ah, good to know.
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ThatDevilTech (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:24am

I am suing Guttormson because he has made ridiculous statements that are...

Anyone else notice in the quote towards the bottom that he referred to her as "he". Makes me wonder who he's talking about. Can't even keep it straight himself.
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- tqk (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 10:48am
  
  Re:
  Yup, which is pretty odd considering that hate clip he posted of her is clearly a fairly attractive female (outwardly, at least).
  
  Add in that this affair has gone on for months since his first suit's filing, yet he's still ignorant of this?
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- Mike Masnick (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 11:41am
  
  Re:
  Anyone else notice in the quote towards the bottom that he referred to her as "he". Makes me wonder who he's talking about. Can't even keep it straight himself.
  
  No. He's doing it on purpose because he's an asshole. It's not even worth explaining why because it's irrelevant to the story. Just suffice it to say he's doing it on purpose to attack her.
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PaulT (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:30am

"He disagrees with me therefore he's a communist! Commies are bad because they're opposed to freedom so I demand his freedoms are taken away!"

McCarthy's ghost lives, and his followers are as bright and informed as ever...
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Strange Lovin', 11 Sep 2015 @ 7:50am

Totally vital!
"The truth always comes out. Regardless of how many idiotic minds shout in the streets. Faith will prevail and communism shall not rule."

Keeping our vital essences both vital and pure, what a patriot!
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- Bat Guano, 11 Sep 2015 @ 10:16am
  
  Re: Totally vital!
  OPE
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Anonymous Coward, 11 Sep 2015 @ 8:08am

Miller could actually be a real benifit to society.
Show everything from this guy to schoolchildren.
"Children, this is why you shouldn't do drugs!"
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- tqk (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 10:52am
  
  Re: Miller could actually be a real benifit to society.
  The Great Worldwide Atheist Conspiracy should use him in its recruiting material. We'd be free of religion in no time.
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Guardian, 11 Sep 2015 @ 12:47pm

i hate faith based feeling and love making money
oops guess im not a commie and im a critic, YOUR DOOMED NOW LAD.......
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mcinsand, 11 Sep 2015 @ 12:56pm

are you thinking what I'm thinking?
This could be Trump's perfect running mate!
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Mark Wing, 11 Sep 2015 @ 2:01pm

So, the faith healing was all a ruse to expose communists? And we played right into it. Yours is the superior intellect, comrade.
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BernardoVerda (profile), 11 Sep 2015 @ 4:43pm

Faith vs. Communist Atheists
Wait a minute... I'm confused
-- doesn't faith-healing cure communism?

(apparently he's a fraud, either way)
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2015 @ 12:28pm

Maybe he'd be more believable if he wasn't falling asleep in between and in the middle of each sentence. Pfff.. nah.

100 dislikes and 0 likes on his response video proves he's in his own world.
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Sep 2015 @ 1:26pm

You forgot one YouTube video...

https://youtu.be/G8GwT7ZotCg
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Blackfiredragon13 (profile), 13 Sep 2015 @ 6:02pm

Déjà vu
This reminds of the time my psycho father accused me of being Chinese(I'm extremely white) and being sent by the soviet Union to kidnap jimmy carter and assassinate Jeb Bush, Donald trump, and Dick Cheney.
Same level of sanity and logic on display here. And yes he actually did believe that. Still might, haven't checked recently.
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- tqk (profile), 13 Sep 2015 @ 8:33pm
  
  Re: Déjà vu
  This reminds of the time my psycho father accused me of being Chinese(I'm extremely white) and being sent by the soviet Union to kidnap jimmy carter and assassinate Jeb Bush, Donald trump, and Dick Cheney.
  
  This sounds way too weirdly specific to be distant past stuff. I suspect you may need your meds checked sir.
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