On Wednesday, the moderators of Park Slope Parents, a local list-service for parents, sent out this ominous message:

The moderators have been threatened with a lawsuit pertaining to a post on the Park Slope Parents Yahoo Group.  In order to protect ourselves, we are SHUTTING DOWN the Message Archives until further notice.

The PSP Moderators and Advisory Committee have already spent hundreds of hours trying to resolve this situation.  It is important that we resolve this quickly and with integrity — if we do not, the entire PSP list may be in jeopardy and may have to be closed down entirely. We may need to ask for donations from PSP to pay for legal counsel.

For those not familiar with PSP, it is an invaluable resource to the parents of Park Slope, which provides an open exchange of information about parenting in Park Slope Brooklyn.
Issues such as "Where’s the best place to get shoes that fit?," or "Does
anyone have an idea of how to get a baby to take a bottle?" The group
is open to parents in the neighborhood with children of all ages. It is
"gently" moderated.

After word of the lawsuit spread, members of Park Slope Parents rushed to the aid of  the moderators and have offered to donate money, legal services, and anything else in order to save this cherished community resource.

Members of the PSP list service expressed their shock, concern, and dismay about this lawsuit in the way they know best: by posting messages to the group.

Susan Fox, Founder and Co-moderator of PSP, said in an e-mail to OTBKB this morning: "We have received private, positive support and offers of legal assistance which has been wonderful to have."

Here are a few of the messages of support that have already appeared on PSP. Today (November 5)  the list features many, many more, as well as good information about lawsuits of this kind.