Don Imus to Sue CBS Radio for Breach of Contract - Political Forum

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 05-03-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Don Imus to Sue CBS Radio for Breach of Contract

NEW YORK — Disgraced radio host Don Imus will sue CBS Radio for the huge portion of his $40 million contract that was left unpaid after he was fired for racist and sexist comments, his attorney said Thursday.

Martin Garbus, a First Amendment attorney, said he plans to file the breach of contract lawsuit by the end of next week. Imus, 66, was barely three months into the five-year deal with CBS when he was dismissed April 12 after describing the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" on his nationally syndicated radio program.

Garbus cited a contract clause where CBS acknowledged that Imus' services were "unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial." The clause said Imus's programming was "desired by company and ... consistent with company rules and policy," according to Garbus.

CBS Radio spokeswoman Karen Mateo did not return a call seeking comment.

Garbus' past clients include comedian Lenny Bruce, the rap group Public Enemy and filmmaker Spike Lee.

$40 million. Wow, that's a shitload of money Imus was making.

Obviously, as an opponent of Mr. Imus and his remarks, I don't think CBS should have to pay for this. I wonder if CBS will settle the lawsuit.

WEB

Seer · 05-03-2007, 06:10 PM

I wonder what kind of contract it was. I hope CBS can fight this. That old man doesn’t need 40 million I’m sure.

top gun · 05-03-2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seer

I wonder what kind of contract it was. I hope CBS can fight this. That old man doesn’t need 40 million I’m sure.

There is some language in his contract that NBC "wanted" Imus to be controversial. I still think that's a long way from where he ended up though. I would expect some fractional settlement if this suit ever really gets going.

Personally I hope he gets nada!

FRYandBENDER · 05-04-2007, 09:59 AM

I think he might have a case. I also think that when he asks for 40 million he is shooting high on purpose. They will probably settle, but I'm not sure for how much. Personally, I hope he can at least get 10 million out of it. I think that would be fair.

FRYandBENDER · 05-04-2007, 10:29 AM

I haven't heard a whole lot of him, but from what I gather Howard Stern is way worse. But then again, he is now on satellite radio.

writerman · 05-04-2007, 02:00 PM

Rosie O'Donnell can spew hatred, outrageous lies, and ludicrous conspiracy theories on the public airwaves, and objections to her fall on deaf ears. Those "civil rights leaders" who demanded the figurative lynching of Imus (and I'm hardly a fan of his) need to listen to Bill Cosby, take a hard look at black "culture" today, and clean up their own act before they start passing judgement on others.

For the record, I think Imus's comments were vulgar and obnoxious. But it seems the the only ones ever punished in the way Imus was are those who dare to thumb their nose at political correctness. When I was growing up, according to what I was taught about the Constitution, that was called "free speech" and is explicitly protected by that document. If any and every private entity--and by virtue of using the public airwaves, CBS is only semi-private anyway--can censor controversial speech that doesn't meet the prevailing standards of political correctness, then that provision in the Constitution is a sham, not worth the parchment it was written on.

The mainstream media is so left-biased it's not even worth listening to or reading any more if you want real information. I hope Imus takes them to the cleaners. I'll certainly shed no tears for the politically correct elitists that run CBS if he does.

Wolfman · 05-04-2007, 04:58 PM

it's not called free speech...in terms of racism their was already a civil war for that and the good side won

CHUQ · 05-05-2007, 04:35 AM

Imus is like a lot ofAmericans. looking to win the lawsuit lotto. n He will probably settle, this announcement is just the beginning salvo in the war of legal-ese.

FRYandBENDER · 05-07-2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfman

it's not called free speech...in terms of racism their was already a civil war for that and the good side won

I'm almost reluctant to even get this started, but "the good side?"..... WTF?

top gun · 05-08-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by writerman

Rosie O'Donnell can spew hatred, outrageous lies, and ludicrous conspiracy theories on the public airwaves, and objections to her fall on deaf ears. Those "civil rights leaders" who demanded the figurative lynching of Imus (and I'm hardly a fan of his) need to listen to Bill Cosby, take a hard look at black "culture" today, and clean up their own act before they start passing judgement on others.

For the record, I think Imus's comments were vulgar and obnoxious. But it seems the the only ones ever punished in the way Imus was are those who dare to thumb their nose at political correctness. When I was growing up, according to what I was taught about the Constitution, that was called "free speech" and is explicitly protected by that document. If any and every private entity--and by virtue of using the public airwaves, CBS is only semi-private anyway--can censor controversial speech that doesn't meet the prevailing standards of political correctness, then that provision in the Constitution is a sham, not worth the parchment it was written on.

The mainstream media is so left-biased it's not even worth listening to or reading any more if you want real information. I hope Imus takes them to the cleaners. I'll certainly shed no tears for the politically correct elitists that run CBS if he does.

The Imus thing wasn't about free speech. It's not a free speech issue when it comes to your performance on the job. You know that right?

I can't cuss people out at work or call the ladies in the office whores even if that were true. I can't say to a client... your new condo sucks or you know there are a lot of blacks in this neighborhood. There is a work standard that is totally set by the company in regard to your employment and how you act on the job.

Many high profile jobs in the public eye even have "morality clauses" that can affect your job even if you breach off the job.

You have a right to say anything you want. You do not have a right to work for any certain company.