Caleb Hannan

Caleb Hannan is an American freelance writer and sports journalist.
Controversy
Ann Rule
In June 2013, when Hannan was employed as editor of Seattle Weekly, true crime author Ann Rule sued the newspaper for "defamation" over an article about Liysa Northon who is notorious in Oregon for having killed her husband, written by Rick Swart, which alleged that Rule made up claims about Northon in her (Rule's) 2003 book Heart Full of Lies and had never met or interviewed Northon, contrary to what the book implied. In addition to suing the newspaper, Rule sued the author of the article, Swart, the editor, Hannan, and another person.
On February 24 and 25, 2014, a judge made two rulings dismissing the claims, finding that Rule's suit violated a Washington state law barring lawsuits that target the legal exercise of free speech and public participation, and that Rule had not established there were any false, defamatory statements about her in the article. The judge awarded Caleb Hannan, Rick Swart, the newspaper and one other defendant $10,000 each in damages, plus attorneys fees and costs. “Rule admitted that she never interviewed Liysa or members of her immediate family,” said Swart.
Story of Essay Anne Vanderbilt
He was caught in a transgender community controversy in early 2014 for writing an article published on Grantland called Dr. V's Magical Putter in which he chronicles his pursuit of the identity of Essay Anne Vanderbilt while investigating his golf-related inventions. To his golf company's investors, Vanderbilt falsely held himself out to be a doctor and physicist. Hannan's reporting drew varied criticism, including his characterization of Vanderbilt's life story as "strange" and "bizarre", After the story was published, members of the transgender activist community called Hannan a "bigot", a "murderer" and a "transphobe" for discovering and writing the truth about "Dr. Essay Anne Vanderbilt". Hannan was also subject to death threats and had his personal home address posted on the internet.

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