Will County election worker awarded $46,000 after doxing campaign tied to social media

Summary

A Will County judge awarded Ellen Moriarty nearly $46,000 in damages following a trial under Illinois' Civil Liability for Doxing Act. The case involved a false Facebook post falsely attributing a statement praising the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump to Moriarty. The post was shared by Michael Gondek, who testified he is a graphic design professional and admitted to manipulating the image. The judge ruled that the doxing caused Moriarty serious harm, including mental anguish and disruption to her life. The verdict is considered one of the first under Illinois' 2024 doxing law, which allows civil action against those who intentionally publish harmful, identifiable information online.