Andrew Shirvell is learning a very expensive lesson in obsession and hatred. A jury sided with former University of Michigan student government president Chris Armstrong and ordered that Shirvell pay $4.5 million in a defamation suit filed against the former MI Assistant AG.

Shirvell proved the old adage that ‘he who represents himself in court has a fool for a client’ defended himself stating that he did not have hate in his heart when he stalked Armstrong like an obsessed jilted lover and said many hateful things about him on his blog.

Shirvell, who is unemployed, stated he could never pay the judgement. He also plans to appeal having stated that the award was “grossly excessive” and that his attacks defaming Armstrong’s character was “clearly protected speech … and activity.” He also stated “This should have been thrown out. Juries give short shrift to First Amendment rights.”

Armstrong had offered to drop the case if Shirvell apologized and offered a retraction.

Apparently the reason why Shirvell is still unemployed after being fired as Assistant AG is because of his lack of understanding regarding the law. Armstrong, not being a public figure, is not subject to the higher standards of what constitutes defamation of character that someone like, say President Barack Obama or FRC head Tony Perkins is, and defamation of character is not covered by free speech rights.