Libel and Cameroonian "High Witchcraft"

From Judge Susan Wigenton today in Nzounkeu v. Nouma (D.N.J.), an order following a default judgment, since defendant failed to defend himself:

ORDERED that Plaintiffs' motion for a default judgment is granted in its entirety and that Defendant is restrained and permanently enjoined from making statements and posting on the internet or through other media:
1) that Nzounkeu engaged in human sacrifices and high witchcraft known as "Famlah";
2) that Nzounkeu extracted bones and organs from human graves;
3) that Nzounkeu removed digits from living persons;
4) that Nzounkeu murdered any person; and
that Njuptchui [Nzounkeu's wife -EV] lured numerous young men to hotels to murder them and harvest their organs.

"Famlah" (or "famla") apparently comes from Cameroon; that is where plaintiff resides and where defendant ("a Cameroon political activist" with over 35,000 Facebook followers) is from. No apparent connection to Ambazonia.

For more on anti-libel injunctions, whether following trial or default judgment, see this article.

Comments

[Soronel Haetir]

Too bad the order says nothing about how the court has jurisdiction.

[Dr. Ed 2]

“THIS MATTER having been opened to the Court by Corey Stark PLLC, attorneys for plaintiffs “

I do find it troubling that foreigners can get injunctions in our courts while we’d never get them in theirs.

I think that if Nzounkeu can sue in our courts, then he should be required to voluntarily submit to their jurisdiction, i.e. physically be here…

[Soronel Haetir]

I was more curious about how there is jurisdiction over the defendant than how the plaintiff was able to ask the court for relief.

[Eugene Volokh]

According to the Complaint, “Defendant is a resident of the State of New Jersey” (though he is from Cameroon).

[Martinned]

Hang on, so witchcraft is a question of fact and not a religious doctrine? (Because I’d imagine you couldn’t get an injunction forbidding someone to argue about religion even in a default judgment.)

[Dr. Ed 2]

Good point: 1) that Nzounkeu engaged in human sacrifices and high witchcraft known as “Famlah”;

[Dr. Ed 2]

And along related lines: https://freebeacon.com/democrats/meet-rep-cori-bush-and-her-fellow-faith-healers/

We live in interesting times…

[Eugene Volokh]

I think that’s asking things at too broad a level. Many discussions of witchcraft are matters of religious opinion. Forbidding someone to argue about religion would be unconstitutional. But whether someone has actually engaged in a specific religious ritual is a question of fact.

[David Nieporent]

Hang on, so witchcraft is a question of fact

Duh. Does he weigh the same as a duck?

[Cal Cetín]

Well, if the plaintiff was falsely accused of witchcraft he should get some justice. And the fact that he sought justice in the courts rather than through other means perhaps means he isn’t really a witch.

Anyway,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82cdnAUvsw8

[darkknight9]

The perils of a night of drunken necromancy… if I had a nickel. 😀