Is “I Will Sue You Into Bankruptcy” a Permissible Coda to a “Govern Yourself Accordingly” Letter?

Posted by Jeff Lipshaw

The Wall Street Journal Law Blog reports that the lawyer for Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl sent a “govern yourself accordingly” letter to a fan running the firegeorgekarl.com blog.

While the Law Blog focuses on the merits of the question whether anything on the blog is actionable, notwithstanding New York Times v. Sullivan, I have a different question.

The letter concluded:  “As Coach Karl’s counsel I am putting you on notice that I will sue youinto bankruptcy should you cross the boundaries of permissible speech.”  I assume that the lawyer does not know how much it would take to sue this blogger into bankruptcy (maybe the reason he has so much time to blog is that he’s independently wealthy).  Having never used this phrase, nor been the recipient of a letter using this phrase, I’m not sure off the top of my head whether anything in the Model Rules prohibits this particular hyperbole.

Comments?