STEUBENVILLE - A settlement has been reached in the defamation suit filed by the parents of a Steubenville High School student against an Internet blogger for comments that painted their son in a negative light after the alleged rape of an underage girl at an end-of-summer party in August.
Johna and Jim Saltsman had filed suit in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court against Columbus resident Alexandria Goddard for comments posted on blogs she administers at prinniefied.com characterizing their son, Cody, as the "mastermind" and "orchestrator" of the alleged assault and suggesting he'd also participated.
The suit, filed in October, had sought to force Goddard to remove the postings. The Saltsmans also had asked for damages in excess of $25,000.
On Thursday, however, the Saltsmans' attorney, Shawn Blake, asked the court to dismiss the case.
The Saltsmans could not be reached for comment, and Blake said only that they were "pleased to have reached a resolution in the case."
Trent Mays, 16, of Bloomingdale and Malik Richmond, 16, of Steubenvillehave been charged with rape in connection with the incident. Mays also faces a charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material. Their trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 13.
