Johnny Northside. Photo: evilpinkpony

The former head of a Minneapolis neighborhood group is suing a local blogger over online words he says cost him a job. Jerry Moore, who used to run the Jordan Area Community Council (JACC), contends that he lost employment with the University of Minnesota because John Hoff and six others defamed him via slanted posts at Hoff’s blog, The Adventures of Johnny Northside.

With the future of JACC itself the subject of current court action, Moore’s suit says Hoff’s participation in matters he chronicled makes him “disentitled” to free-speech protections.

(An example of Hoff’s crusading work is yesterday’s “exclusive video” post titled “Fire At 3020 6th St. N., Former Crack House.”)

Hoff also let the comments section of his blog become a “defamation zone” for anonymous commenters, Moore claims. The lawsuit, filed Friday, also names five of them, as best it can, as “John Doe” defendants.

Journalist Anna Pratt, at her Prattles blog, sees parallels to DFL activist and political consultant Blois Olson’s 2007 suit against blogger-turned-Minnesota-GOP second-banana Michael Brodkorb. (That case was dismissed.)

Meanwhile, Hoff — who made news last February by publicizing state Rep. Jim Abeler’s comments about North Minneapolis kids using wooden nickles to plug bullet holes — has a movie in the works, also called “The Adventures of Johnny Northside.” Here’s a trailer for it:

The Adventures of Johnny Northside Movie Trailer from Gabriel Cheifetz on Vimeo.

“I don’t want to be goofy about this, so I’ll just say we decided to part ways,” she said, citing Olson’s busy schedule as a father of two and the success of his public relations firm. Olson was unavailable for comment.

The publication, highly regarded by political insiders for its focus on the capitol, will keep the left/right balance it has maintained since D.J. Leary and Wy Spano founded it more than 25 years ago, she confirmed. Janecek will represent the “GOP angle,” the site said, while Dan Feidt will bring “youth, Internet savvy and a leftie point of view.” She said there’s an “embarrassment of riches” in the area, which is stocked amply with good, left-leaning writers, but she couldn’t name Olson’s replacement. The site did indicate that it will bring on new voices, including “names those in Minnesota public affairs will recognize” and “heretofore unheard-of people.” Macalester graduate Tracey Howell will oversee the site’s free Daily Reports.

Calling the subscription-based e-mail newsletter “the rag for everyone at the Capitol,” Janecek said a site redesign is underway and will include statewide news headlines and a blog, as well as two subscription email news services. She wouldn’t say if conflict with Olson prompted his departure, but hinted as much.

“Breakups are awkward,” she said. “Let’s hope this one stays on the high road.”