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Julian Englis

(2,309 posts)
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 11:58 AM Feb 2019

Covington Catholic lawyer 'looking very carefully' at Bill Maher over 'defamatory' statements

Source: The Hill

The attorney representing Covington Catholic high school student Nick Sandmann said Thursday that he is also "looking very carefully" at HBO's Bill Maher for making "defamatory" statements against the 16-year-old in January.

The comments come after Sandmann filed a lawsuit against The Washington Post over its coverage of the student's viral encounter with a Native American elder in Washington, D.C.

Attorney Lin Wood told Fox News that in addition to the Post, his legal team is also looking at other outlets, including CNN and HBO.

"Well, certainly CNN and Bill Maher did things that we consider to have crossed the line. We think the statements they made are defamatory. They're not humorous," Wood said. "So certainly Bill Maher is somebody that we're looking at very carefully, and HBO, for allowing him to make those defamatory statements."

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/media/430946-covington-catholic-lawyer-looking-very-carefully-at-bill-maher-over-defamatory



This is facist thinking. You'd think tRump, the Repug party, and the radical right would be afraid of strict limits on the free press as they are so free of facts.,
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Covington Catholic lawyer 'looking very carefully' at Bill Maher over 'defamatory' statements (Original Post) Julian Englis Feb 2019 OP
Yes this is facist thinking and actions if they proceed. mountain grammy Feb 2019 #1
They do not have a case and they know it. This is just to generate publicity. Curious why they still_one Feb 2019 #2
Good point PatSeg Feb 2019 #25
Their school AND their local Bishop who jointly threatened expulsion... IllinoisBirdWatcher Feb 2019 #36
Ehhhhhhhh......I think they have a case theboss Feb 2019 #38
So you are saying they can prove actual "malice", because that is the criteria setup by the Supreme still_one Feb 2019 #43
He's not a public figure theboss Feb 2019 #45
fine. Can they prove the statements that were made knowing they were false or made with reckless still_one Feb 2019 #50
Kentucky Cowards Rover1 Feb 2019 #3
They encouraged it. n/t gldstwmn Feb 2019 #40
As Cody Johnston asked: Where are the parents? Saviolo Feb 2019 #4
Their parents would likely join them Wednesdays Feb 2019 #29
Right, but they also can be held accountable. Saviolo Feb 2019 #54
Hate profiteering C_U_L8R Feb 2019 #5
I hope that smirking little prick gets hit by a meteor. Aristus Feb 2019 #6
Two words Traildogbob Feb 2019 #15
I was thinking the exact same thing. Aristus Feb 2019 #22
This... Duppers Feb 2019 #55
👏🏽👏🏽 Traildogbob Feb 2019 #56
Yes, they should! Duppers Feb 2019 #57
I am a Catholic and I just want to smack him in the face to wipe off his smirk katmondoo Feb 2019 #7
I'm an ex-Catholic 47of74 Feb 2019 #11
Me too rurallib Feb 2019 #35
You want to smack a teenage kid in the face? Bonx Feb 2019 #41
Just think what's going to happen when he applies to college? kimbutgar Feb 2019 #8
He's got money and went to a fancy private high school. He'll get in to a good college. SunSeeker Feb 2019 #26
Liberty U. and Regents U. would grant him a full-ride scholarship Wednesdays Feb 2019 #30
If he had just shut up, it would have died a natural death in the 24 hour news cycle TexasBushwhacker Feb 2019 #33
For Newspapers to be sued for a story they have to show their was malicious intent, and the paper still_one Feb 2019 #46
That's not an element for a private citizen, only a public figure theboss Feb 2019 #48
Still they have to prove that the paper made statements knowing they were false, with reckless still_one Feb 2019 #51
I'm pretty sure they just reported the event TexasBushwhacker Feb 2019 #59
It will be interesting to see what the courts decide still_one Feb 2019 #62
Ok...how's this... dhill926 Feb 2019 #9
I second that motion. 47of74 Feb 2019 #28
They will lose as others before have and Maher will have a field day with their attempt as always Major Nikon Feb 2019 #10
The Trump strategy. Threaten litigation to everyone, to silence critics. nt Honeycombe8 Feb 2019 #12
It's more opportunistic than fascistic though that mindset does underlie school & lawyer outlook. nt Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2019 #13
This is all just a distraction ScratchCat Feb 2019 #14
This attorney Wood seems to be all over the map. Archae Feb 2019 #16
Lin Wood..... LovingA2andMI Feb 2019 #17
Yes, he protects the tender reputations of the well-to-do. SunSeeker Feb 2019 #24
Fucking snowflakes. Initech Feb 2019 #18
If Maher had a dollar for everyone of these "defamation" cases... LakeArenal Feb 2019 #19
Fuck Sandmann. This punk is not the only one with 1st Amendment rights. nt SunSeeker Feb 2019 #20
What the hell!!! PatSeg Feb 2019 #21
Done purely for headlines. One might suggest the Church might have bigger problems at home ... marble falls Feb 2019 #23
Thinking that someone like Pope Francis would support this would be a huge stretch Wednesdays Feb 2019 #32
I think Francis has real fires to put out right this minute at the Vatican. marble falls Feb 2019 #34
The parents checks must be good. Corgigal Feb 2019 #27
Assholes working hard to breed a new generation. Nick Sandmann: Squinch Feb 2019 #31
Sandmann is certainly a delicate snowflake. LanternWaste Feb 2019 #37
Would you enjoy being the overnight national focus of unsolicited rabid hatred? Bonx Feb 2019 #42
And even easier is rationalizing an implicit defense of dipwad on a message board LanternWaste Feb 2019 #44
'Self-righteousness' is not bandwagoning hatefulness towards unwitting teen. Bonx Feb 2019 #53
Or in the words of Arrested Development: Initech Feb 2019 #58
First the WaPo and now Maher? gldstwmn Feb 2019 #39
I hope the judges in thes cases make them pay legal costs pecosbob Feb 2019 #47
I think this settles quietly out of court theboss Feb 2019 #49
Many first ammendment attorneys do not think they have a case. One notable exception still_one Feb 2019 #52
This is crazy. The kid had a choice to stand there smirking or walk away. There is no accountability Pisces Feb 2019 #60
The Westboro Baptist Church business model works great. JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2019 #61

still_one

(91,962 posts)
2. They do not have a case and they know it. This is just to generate publicity. Curious why they
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:03 PM
Feb 2019

don't sue the school who initially also said they were guilty. All the WP was doing was reporting what had transpired. They also reported that the investigation that the school held found no evidence that they engaged in the alleged activities which the WP also reported.

Its called the first ammendment



PatSeg

(46,804 posts)
25. Good point
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:18 PM
Feb 2019

You'd think suing the school for not properly supervising the teens on an out-of-state trip would be more logical, but suing anyone is pretty ludicrous, when the problem is how they raised their disrespectful, bigoted son.

I'm sure The Washington Post and Bill Maher appreciate the free publicity though.

IllinoisBirdWatcher

(2,315 posts)
36. Their school AND their local Bishop who jointly threatened expulsion...
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:48 PM
Feb 2019
from Catholic News Agency on January 23rd (bolding mine):

“This behavior is opposed to the Church’s teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person. The matter is being investigated and we will take appropriate action, up to and including expulsion,” they said.


And neighboring Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville and Kentucky’s metropolitan archbishop, also weighed in...

“I join with Bishop Foys in condemning the actions of the Covington Catholic students towards Mr. Nathan Phillips and the Native American Community yesterday in Washington. I have every confidence that the leadership of the Diocese of Covington will thoroughly investigate what occurred and address those all involved in this shameful act of disrespect,” Kurtz wrote Jan. 19.


It seems like now legal and PR teams hired by the parents only want selective "justice" from those with deep pockets.

still_one

(91,962 posts)
43. So you are saying they can prove actual "malice", because that is the criteria setup by the Supreme
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:45 PM
Feb 2019

Court.

Can they show that the journalists involved in producing this "supposedly libelous story" knew it was false but published it anyway, or that they published it with a "reckless disregard: for whether the story was accurate?


Please proceed and tell me why you think they have a case?


 

theboss

(10,491 posts)
45. He's not a public figure
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:52 PM
Feb 2019

So that's not an element.

(I don't think it's a great case. But I think it's interesting.

Where it really gets interesting is with someone like Bill Maher. At that point, the kid may have actually been a public figure. I think it's fascinating to determine what a public figure is in a social media age, and this case may go some ways in establishing that).

still_one

(91,962 posts)
50. fine. Can they prove the statements that were made knowing they were false or made with reckless
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 03:01 PM
Feb 2019

disregard as to their falsity?

I don't think so, since the school made the same statements.



 

Rover1

(26 posts)
3. Kentucky Cowards
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:04 PM
Feb 2019

The school's chaperones obviously are the ones who should be charged with not being responsible when they obviously shirked their duties at the minimum.

Saviolo

(3,270 posts)
4. As Cody Johnston asked: Where are the parents?
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:06 PM
Feb 2019

Great video here. Please note: this video does not mention the lawsuit against the Washington Post because it was written and filmed before that, it actually came out the day the lawsuit against the Post was revealed:

Saviolo

(3,270 posts)
54. Right, but they also can be held accountable.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 04:43 PM
Feb 2019

Instead they hid immediately behind a PR firm which got their kids on major network television with adults in the room.

Aristus

(66,095 posts)
6. I hope that smirking little prick gets hit by a meteor.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:12 PM
Feb 2019

Rich asshole goes crying to his mommy and daddy because non-rich non-assholes said something about him...

Traildogbob

(8,576 posts)
15. Two words
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:39 PM
Feb 2019

David Hogg. Death threats and non stop right wing bashing. Is he suing like this puke little asshole?

Traildogbob

(8,576 posts)
56. 👏🏽👏🏽
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 04:57 PM
Feb 2019

Bravo!!! Hillary and Michelle should be suing the hell out of all right (White) wing media.

 

47of74

(18,470 posts)
11. I'm an ex-Catholic
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:33 PM
Feb 2019

One of the big reasons I left was because of people like that piece of fecal material of all ages.

And the clergy - especially Bishops - who enable them.

kimbutgar

(20,882 posts)
8. Just think what's going to happen when he applies to college?
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:17 PM
Feb 2019

The little jerk will probably not get into any good colleges because of that smirk. He showed bad character a no no to college administration officials.

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
26. He's got money and went to a fancy private high school. He'll get in to a good college.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:19 PM
Feb 2019

Those rules you mention only apply to poor kids, not the well-to-do, sadly.

Wednesdays

(17,248 posts)
30. Liberty U. and Regents U. would grant him a full-ride scholarship
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:30 PM
Feb 2019

He'd just have to switch to a different kind of repressive Christianity.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,044 posts)
33. If he had just shut up, it would have died a natural death in the 24 hour news cycle
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:38 PM
Feb 2019

Hell, the story was already dead. No one will remember his name or what he did, unless he brings it up in a LAWSUIT. And how exactly do they figure his precious reputation is worth $250 Million?

still_one

(91,962 posts)
46. For Newspapers to be sued for a story they have to show their was malicious intent, and the paper
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:52 PM
Feb 2019

knew it was false but published it anyway with reckless disregard for whether the story was accurate.


That is how the Supreme Court has viewed it.

This is going no where except to generate publicity

 

theboss

(10,491 posts)
48. That's not an element for a private citizen, only a public figure
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:58 PM
Feb 2019

This is not that that simple.

still_one

(91,962 posts)
51. Still they have to prove that the paper made statements knowing they were false, with reckless
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 03:03 PM
Feb 2019

disregard as to their falsity.

TexasBushwhacker

(20,044 posts)
59. I'm pretty sure they just reported the event
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 06:00 PM
Feb 2019

It's not their fault he looked like a disrespectful douchebag.? WP isn't stupid.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
10. They will lose as others before have and Maher will have a field day with their attempt as always
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:20 PM
Feb 2019

These dipshits should rethink their strategy if they think their ambulance chaser is going to scare Maher.

ScratchCat

(1,957 posts)
14. This is all just a distraction
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:37 PM
Feb 2019

for the religious right base. This keeps them believing christians are "victims" and fills the time when the RW talking heads should be telling them how bad Trump is screwing the country. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if someone associated with Trump suggested this fake lawsuit distraction.

*fake - they have no legal standing or case as the kid was standing in public.

Archae

(46,262 posts)
16. This attorney Wood seems to be all over the map.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:50 PM
Feb 2019

Mostly involved in the JonBenet Ramsey case, but he also defended Herman Cain.

"In November, 2011, Wood was hired by then-presidential candidate Herman Cain, in his efforts to fight off sexual harassment accusations."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._Lin_Wood

LovingA2andMI

(7,006 posts)
17. Lin Wood.....
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 12:59 PM
Feb 2019

Where have that name been heard of before. Oh, we know.....

"Burke Ramsey, the brother of child beauty-pageant queen JonBenét Ramsey, who was killed more than 22 years ago, settled a defamation lawsuit against CBS Corp. and several others on Friday, his lawyer told NPR.

Ramsey, who was 9 years old at the time of the grisly killing, sued CBS in 2016 after the network aired a two-day documentary series that included the theory that the boy had slain his 6-year-old sister.

Burke's attorney, Lin Wood, told NPR in an email that the lawsuit has "been amicably settled to the satisfaction of all parties."

"For almost 20 years, it has been my privilege to represent John Ramsey, Patsy Ramsey (before her untimely death in 2006) and their son, Burke in a number of defamation lawsuits," Wood said. "It is now my professional and personal wish for this family that they no longer suffer the pain of false accusations in the future. I sincerely hope the CBS case is my last lawsuit for these fine clients and friends."

A CBS spokesman agreed that "the case had been amicably resolved."

The final settlement amount was not disclosed, but the complaint, filed in Michigan, was seeking no less than $250 million in compensatory damages and no less than $500 million in punitive damages.

JonBenét's brutal death was the subject of a massive investigation by law enforcement officials in Colorado, and the mysterious circumstances of her killing captivated the public for decades, spawning countless conspiracy theories."

https://www.npr.org/2019/01/04/682444535/jonben-t-ramseys-brother-settles-defamation-lawsuit-with-cbs

SunSeeker

(51,369 posts)
24. Yes, he protects the tender reputations of the well-to-do.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:15 PM
Feb 2019

You won't see him sue over some poor innocent black kid being called a criminal.

LakeArenal

(28,729 posts)
19. If Maher had a dollar for everyone of these "defamation" cases...
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:07 PM
Feb 2019

He wouldn’t need a show.

Stand in line you little pestilential smirk-face.

PatSeg

(46,804 posts)
21. What the hell!!!
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:12 PM
Feb 2019

So these grifters are just going to sue everybody???

And they call Democrats snowflakes!

And you just know that Maher will include this today on his show.

marble falls

(56,358 posts)
23. Done purely for headlines. One might suggest the Church might have bigger problems at home ...
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:15 PM
Feb 2019

to investigate and litigate.

Wednesdays

(17,248 posts)
32. Thinking that someone like Pope Francis would support this would be a huge stretch
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:34 PM
Feb 2019

A Hail Mary, if you will.

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)
27. The parents checks must be good.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:20 PM
Feb 2019

Just keeping BSing the money train and cash those checks.

Can't blame the attorney for profiting off of stupid people, and Bill Maher will love this. HBO has great attorneys and Maher won't pay a thing.

Squinch

(50,774 posts)
31. Assholes working hard to breed a new generation. Nick Sandmann:
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:33 PM
Feb 2019

remember the name, college admissions offices and corporate HR departments!

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
37. Sandmann is certainly a delicate snowflake.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:03 PM
Feb 2019

Must be so very tiring attempting to make the oppression of the white male as believable as possible.

I can only hope he finds the Safe Space he so desperately needs to avoid being mocked by Them.

Thought and prayers, little buckaroo. Thoughts and prayers.

Bonx

(2,041 posts)
42. Would you enjoy being the overnight national focus of unsolicited rabid hatred?
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:43 PM
Feb 2019

while being a teenager in high school?
It's probably not as easy as posting snide comments on message board.

 

LanternWaste

(37,748 posts)
44. And even easier is rationalizing an implicit defense of dipwad on a message board
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 02:49 PM
Feb 2019

And even easier is rationalizing an implicit defense of dipwad on a message board to better enable the pretense of self-righteousness that no else really buys into.



I'm guessing one can purcahse the failed season of Rosanne if they really look around.

Bonx

(2,041 posts)
53. 'Self-righteousness' is not bandwagoning hatefulness towards unwitting teen.
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 03:39 PM
Feb 2019

Sorry, that's just not being a jerk.

Pisces

(5,592 posts)
60. This is crazy. The kid had a choice to stand there smirking or walk away. There is no accountability
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 06:08 PM
Feb 2019

For ones actions anymore. It’s disgusting. I am sick of these affluenza kids being taught stand your ground even when you’re wrong and then sue if you don’t like the outcome. We are in upside down world.

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