Jerry Wilkerson v. RSL Funding, L.L.C.

This case of first impression is important to the jurisprudence of Texas. It addresses the question of whether a non-Texas resident who uses interactive local websites allegedly to defame a Texas resident is subject to the same jurisdictional standards as a non-Texas resident who uses local print media allegedly to defame a resident.

Appellee, RSL Funding, L.L.C. (“RSL”), a Houston, Texas company, sued appellant Jerry Wilkerson, a non-Texas resident, for defamation, libel, and business disparagement for posting allegedly defamatory comments on local Houston Yahoo! and local Houston Yelp…