Or they just need to outspend Wonkette. A judgement that could loose on appeal could still win if a ruinous amount must be paid immediately before the appeal, as happened to Gawker. A billionaire with a grudge could fund lawsuit and use the favored libel lawsuit bully of billionaires, Charles Harder.
It would be nice if all threats like this could never go further than summary judgement dismissals, but as Ars Technica and Techdirt have experienced, even winning a suit can be ruinously expensive.
