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08-14-2007, 08:22 PM
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Don Imus Sued by Rutgers Basketball Player
Source: ABC
Quote:
Don Imus is facing his first lawsuit from a player on the Rutgers Women's Basketball team for derogatory comments that cost him his job as a radio host in April, ABC News has learned.
Kia Vaughn, star center for the Rutgers Women's Basketball team, has filed a lawsuit against Imus for libel, slander and defamation -- the first civil suit to be filed against the former radio host. Vaughn is asking for monetary damages of an unspecified amount.
"This is a lawsuit in order to restore the good name and reputation of my client, Kia Vaughn," said her attorney, Richard Ancowitz, in an exclusive interview with the ABC News Law & Justice Unit.
The suit names Imus individually, but it is also waged against MSNBC, NBC Universal, CBS Radio, CBS Corp., Viacom Inc., Westwood One Radio and Imus producer Bernard McGuirk.
Today's suit refers to terms used by Imus April 4 -- including referring to women on the team as "nappy headed" -- as "debasing, demeaning, humiliating, and denigrating" to Vaughn and her fellow players. "There's no way these bigoted remarks should have seen the light of day," Ancowitz told ABC News.
"Don Imus referred to my client as an unchaste woman. That was and is a lie."
Of the networks that aired "Imus in the Morning," the lawsuit alleges that they "wrongfully, intentionally, willfully ... created, tolerated and maintained an atmosphere in which the making of outrageous statements and comments was acceptable, encouraged, and/or rewarded for many years prior to this occurrence and/or overtly encouraged the statements made."
The lawsuit alleges that use of the slanderous terms was intentional and motivated by greed and financial gain: In using insults against otherwise innocent people, Imus would get higher ratings, making more money for him and his employers. Among other infractions, the suit alleges that Imus violated the players' civil rights.
Robert Baker, a civil trial lawyer in California, says the high visibility of Imus' comments would help Vaughn in court.
"Everyone knows how unwarranted those comments were. It makes it easier for them to win their case," Baker told ABC News.
"She has a slander per se case -- the word itself was something derogatory. She doesn't even have to prove that she was damaged."
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We are becoming a nation of pansies. Suing over a insult. I hear far worse everyday at school. I think some people really need to grow up and learn how to take criticism better. I mean, rappers across the world call woman a "ho" all the time, in their songs. Imus defense should be that he was just using street slang for a tough, street-wise black woman. He learned everything from Ludacris, DMX, 50 Cent and other popular rappers. Essentially he is being sued for using words forbidden to whites to use, which blacks use with impunity. I find that unacceptable, and hope she lands flat on her ass.
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08-14-2007, 08:33 PM
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It's not about what was said. It's not about restoring someone's "good name and reputation." It's about putting the hook into a deep pocket for as much cash as possible.
What Imus said was wrong. He has been severely punished for his comments and its likely that his radio career is finished. But a tort action in this case is just someone looking for easy money.
I would hope that the court issues a summary judgement in favor of Imus.
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08-14-2007, 08:52 PM
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This is absolutely absurd. Insults are not slander. Proof is an absolute defense as well. Were they not "nappy haired"? Did they all use hair straightening products? Were any of the women even specifically mentioned, or was it just a generalized reference to the team as a whole? Were they all even black???
As far as the word "ho", unfortunately this word is a very common term that some people, unfortunately use for all women. It has more specific meanings, but is sometimes used simply as an insult for women. Will it be libel to call a woman a "bitch" if she's always a sweet and pleasant person? Again, how can they prove Imus' intent to use the word to describe a prostitute. Being that its a slang term, how can it even be defined since slang is constantly changing. They will have to prove intent to imply specific members of the team were / are prostitutes I guess. I doubt that was what he was trying to imply.
The USA, thank God, is not Canada or Europe, we do not have "group libel" or outlaw insults even if based on a physical characteristic or ethnic background. Thank God we still have free speech. Someone forgot to tell these ladies (oops, sorry, I may get sued if they don't consider themselves ladies).
This is what you call a FRIVOLOUS lawsuit, with a capital F.
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08-14-2007, 08:58 PM
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"I would hope that the court issues a summary judgement in favor of Imus."
I hope he countersues and I hope the court makes her pay ALL attoneys fees and court costs. Frivolous lawsuits need to stop, especially ones aimed at taking freedom away. This is about greed and efforts to create precedents that piece meal create the same "hate speech" "laws" that Canada and Europe have. That is not what America is about. Real slander is not about insults and has nothing to do with "group libel" as some call it. It is about specific falsehoods against specific individuals. The law is not a remedy for hurt feelings.
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08-14-2007, 09:12 PM
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I really don't see what the hoopla is about. The man spoke his mind. That they're "nappy headed hos" is personal opinion. As long as one is not inciting hatred and violence, one should be free to speak his mind.
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08-14-2007, 09:57 PM
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Marquis
Skeptical Patriot
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And in the context of the joking they were doing when he said those things, the whole issue is irrelevant.
I saw the Comedy Central "roast" of Flava Flav last night. If you thought Imus was offensive you had better not watch THAT!
They should be playing it again, I'm sure.
__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.
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08-15-2007, 09:25 AM
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Knight
A.K.A. J.R. Turner
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The only time an offensive statement is actionable is when there are actual (not emotional) damages. I think they're going to be hard pressed to show where they had actual damages.
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08-15-2007, 09:49 AM
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Marquis
Skeptical Patriot
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I'm waiting for Sharpton to show up.
__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.
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08-15-2007, 10:12 AM
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Knight
A.K.A. J.R. Turner
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Join Date: Aug 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scribbler1
I'm waiting for Sharpton to show up.
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Why?
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08-15-2007, 10:56 AM
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Marquis
Skeptical Patriot
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Join Date: Oct 2006
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Because I see him as a media whore and he would use this situation to HIS advantage rather then the girl's, regardless of the relative merits of the case.
If I might anticipate the next possible questions, I feel that way from his past media behavior and that sums up why I think that way.
__________________
Not a day goes by that I don't see something that reinforces my belief that people are idiots.
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