ANNOUNCEMENT

I have temporarily removed the public family tree files from this website. Here's the reason:

When everyone joined the DNA project they were required to submit a family tree in gedcom format. Most did submit, as it is a crucial part of finding our ancestors in other people's files.

These files have been on the website, which I own, McWhirterFamilyTree.com for several years, available for everyone to see and use. The info was searchable by the search engines, so that non particpants could find your information and possibly give you a name of an ancestor you did not have before.

I simply did not have time to read each of the many files that were sent in.

Recently, I received an email from a man who is the son in law of one of our participants. He had found this information by searching for his name on google. The information in the file was, in my opinion, and according to my attorney, inflammatory and could have sued both myself as the owner of the site and the person who submitted the gedcom.

Now I make no judgment as to whether or not the information is true. I dont really care to get involved in family disputes. However...

As a courtesy I emailed the tree owner and told him I had removed a section of his file and why. This man then demanded of me that I put that information back in his file. I simply refuse to do that. Information of that kind has no place on my site. If it were just the man's name, dates and places that would be OK. But according to my attorney the information that was posted was libelous and I should not have it up on my website.

I explained this to the participant, but he is bombarding me with emails insisting that I replace the information back in his file exactly as it was originally posted.

I morally and professionally refuse.

So therefore I've made a decision to temporarily close down the DNA results section until I can get an email back from all members. Here it is:

"I am voluntarily submitting my gedcom file to McWhirterFamilyTree.com for use in the McWhirter DNA Project. This information will be public. The information in these files contains no libelous information about any living individual, and if someone complains about information about them in my file, Amy Hutton has the right to remove that section and inform me of that removal. My FTDNA kit 3 us XXXXX"

Please copy and paste that wording (and electronically sign it,) into an email and send it to me at amyhutton@aol.com If I do not receive this back from you in seven days, I will have to remove your gedcom file from this website.

I'm so sorry it has come to this, but this gentleman has given me no choice. I am completely aghast that he insists on including this nasty (and possibly, even probably true) information about his son in law. This is not the place to display it. I am also removing his file unless he allows me to post hi fie with the subject information removed.

Sincerely,

Amy Hutton
McWhirter DNA