Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit

[kpete]

Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit
Congressman Discussed Killings Involving Serviceman's Squad in Haditha, Iraq

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Page A05

A Marine Corps staff sergeant who led the squad accused of killing two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington claiming that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident earlier this year.

Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine's reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.

Murtha argued that the questionable deaths of 24 civilians were indicative of the difficulties and overpowering stress that U.S. troops are facing. The congressman, a former Marine, has been a leading advocate for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

In the court filing, obtained by The Washington Post, the lawyers say that Murtha made the comments after being briefed by Defense Department officials who "deliberately provided him with inaccurate and false information." Neal A. Puckett and Mark S. Zaid, suing for libel and invasion of privacy, also wrote that Murtha made the comments outside of his official scope as a congressman.

more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/01/AR2006080101345.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. swift boat, Part Uno

Lights, cameras, ACTION.

[dolo amber]

4. No shit, that didn't take long eh?

:eyes:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. In a normal US, that would be tossed out

Congresscritters have a duty to comment on such things.

[H2O Man]

3. This should be

dismissed soon, and the lad who filed it will be hired by Fox News as a consultant.

[INDIA]

5. I'd assume this will get thrown out...

1. Murtha never mentioned the Plaintiff by name specifically.

2. As a member of congress, it's his duty to comment on world affairs and current events. By the time he said the "cold blood" comment the Haditha incident was already in the world media. It's definitely within his "official scope." Plus the lawyer claims the DOD deliberately provided him with false information. Good luck proving that.

[Karmakaze]

12. Actually none of that matters except the last bit...

If even the plaintif is claiming that Murtha was given the information by the Pentagon that he made public, then Murtha acted in good faith believing what he said to be true. His lawyers should be able to get this dismissed almost immediately.

Of course the headlines won't be full of "Case against Murtha dismissed as groundless", so the damage has been done.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. this is an opportunity for us.

WE need to take this lawsuit and make it work for us.
Instead of simply relying on legal victories and hope and pray that MSM would report them as strongly as they did the allegations in the complaint, we need to go on the attack, research and out those who supported this filing and do a reverse swiftboat on them.
SHOW THEM that there indeed is a vast right wing conspiracay - because we now have the proof that it exists.

[atreides1]

6. Killing civilians didn't tarnish his reputation?

The man is accused of murdering men, women, and children, how much more tarnished can his reputation get?

I suspect some "Swift Boaters" behind this little adventure, unless someone can explain how a Marine sergeant has the money to hire both a civil and criminal defense lawyer.

[Captain Hilts]

7. What a candyass. nt

[dorktv]

8. Boy that guy better hope that his squad is not found guilty because

then that would mean Murtha's right AND that he is a horrible leader.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

9. Good boy, sarge. You'll get another Good Conduct Medal.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

10. not the presidential service award?

damn.

[grytpype]

11. I wonder who's behind this?

You just know this is part of an organized Swiftboating, probably funded by Scaife or some other super-rich wingnut.

[JHB]

13. Right. Who's paying Wuterich's lawyers?

:shrug:

[ChairmanAgnostic]

15. probably not scaife. his divorce

is costing him millions, and a shitload of his time. Apparently, his soon to be ex foud herself a good set of liberal divorce lawyers.

[theHandpuppet]

14. Just in (literally!) from CNN...

News is that the investigation, now nearly complete, supports the evidence from witnesses that American troops massacred 24 civilians in Haditha.

Methinks this lawsuit is going nowhere.

[Norquist Nemesis]

16. Gee, I wonder whose tax cuts are funding this guy's suit. n/t

[KingFlorez]

18. People are always filing flaky lawsuits

You are a murderer, you will get called that. Just because you are soldier doesn't mean you are above being called out when you committ a crime. I believe this soldier is a murderer.

[antigone382]

19. Oh...if the jury couild be made up of the corpses of his victims...

Sorry Mr. Marine. My brother was a soldier and you have defamed his reputation by your heinous and unforgivable acts.

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. This is part of a larger plan to target Murtha. The Swiftboaters are back

too, according to Ed Schultz. Is there some way to support Murtha?