Backpage sues sheriff over letters to credit card companies
Efforts by a Chicago-area sheriff to persuade credit card companies not to deal with Backpage.com are “an especially pernicious form of prior restraint,” the company says in a federal lawsuit filed this week.
Arguments on the First Amendment lawsuit, which seeks a restraining order against Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, were held Thursday and a ruling could be issued as early as Monday, the Chicago Tribune (reg. req.) reports.
Dart sent letters on department letterhead to Visa and Mastercard last month, urging them to rethink allowing cardholders to use their plastic to pay Backpage.com for escort ads similar to ones that have drawn fire on Craigslist. The companies responded by imposing a ban, and the suit says Backpage lost revenue as a result. Backpage also is seeking punitive damages.
An earlier Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) story provides additional details.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Backpage wins dismissal of suit over escort ads said to facilitate child sex trafficking”
