UPDATE - 5:03 PM EST - CNBC just has our good friend, the WSJ's Jesse Eisinger (of "Who's Bob O'Brien" and trespassing/terrorizing geriatrics fame) on, and after showing a clip of Dr. Byrne, had him rip into Byrne, claiming longs were panicking and that shorts are good, furry, cuddly little gnomes - oddly, there was no mention of the Marin ruling. Anyone confused about how blatantly rigged this now is? Anyone? Oh, and even though Reuters has been notified numerous times that they erroneously printed the url www.Sanitycheck.com instead of ours, they have still not corrected it. So the games continue.
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“But in the stands there were no smiles, no smirking smug conceits,
The perps weren't thowing out high-fives, nor celebratory peeps,
Gone were the cries, "It's all a lie", or, "Byrne will lose this bout..."
There was no joy in Short Hills, mighty Rocker had struck out...”

That about sums it up. Today, in a Marin County courtroom, a judge, stern of visage and solemn of demeanor, ruled that Rocker and Gradient’s SLAPP motion was a big, quivering pile of dog dung.
Baseless, without merit, frivolous, a big fat waste of everyone’s time. Designed to delay the inevitable, never standing a prayer of succeeding.
That is my opinion, reading between the lines, based on early info. The judge actually indicated that he was refusing Rocker/Gradient’s bid to throw the case out on SLAPP grounds. You can read the headline about it here.
Because, as the Bunny has said all along, this is about conduct, not speech.
There will no doubt be an appeal, also designed to delay as long as possible.
No one is fooled.
So for all the hand wringing and acrimonious whining from the NY press, who are busy supporting Rocker and Gradient and condemning Dr. Byrne, the judge, who has all the facts, issued his opinion:
The Gradient/Rocker SLAPP defense is a big fat nothing.
And now Overstock gets discovery, and all the prime brokers and the network of supporting miscreants will get to open their Kimonos.
It's been quite a week, no?
The defendants were heard whining about how unfair it all is, and how they are victims, and how big bad mean scary Dr. Byrne is picking on them - and they are doing so with the full support of their allies in the NY Press corps. Just moments ago an article came out in which Gradient was mewling about how put upon they are, and how they've been maligned, etc.
"Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh....snurff...urrnnggph...sniff...waaaaahhhh!"

Give it up, boys. It is over. O-V-E-R. This moves to discovery, and all facts will be known. The trading records will see the light, the SEC will be provided all the data, and everyone will get an opportunity to see exactly how innocent you are.
I'd have thought there would be a celebration that you will be allowed to demonstrate your innocence, and to defend your good names.
Why, it's almost as though you have something to hide.

Huh.