Kia Franklin

Defamation Cases Different and Similar

Let’s play a game: 1 college basketball player, 1 state Democratic Party, 1 radio host, 2 mining company big wigs, and 3 huge media institutions. What do these things all have in common? Bad-mouthing and lawsuits. In fact, bad mouthing has been a hot legal issue lately. The connection:

1. Mining Co. Big Wig #1 and 2 Media Institutions. Bob Murray, owner of the Utah coal mine where six men are trapped, is upset at some media networks (Fox News and the AP, in particular) for their coverage of the accident and of the company’s safety record. According to this article, (http://www.wvpubcast.org/radio/newsroom/Murray0808.pdf ) “Murray has been the subject of media scrutiny before for how he runs his mines, his political contributions and his threats to use his political influence to retaliate against mine safety inspectors.” Apparently Murray is financially connected to Republicans in Congress and the Bush administration.

2. 2 Huge Media Institutions, Mining Co. Big Wig #2, and a State Dem Party. Speaking of bad press and mining companies, Don Blankenship, CEO of major mining company Massey Energey Co., believes the West Virginia Democratic Party harmed his reputation. He is suing them for defamation of character, alleging that they mischaracterized his statements regarding the West Virginia mining accidents that killed 14 workers back in January, 2006.

3. 1 basketball player, 1 radio host, and 1 huge media institution. Speaking of Dons and defamation, Rutgers University basketball player Kia Vaughn stepped off one court and took her grievances against Don Imus to another, suing the former CBS radio host for his infamous “nappy headed hos” remarks. Alleging slander and defamation of character, she filed suit against Imus, his former co-host, CBS, and CBS Radio yesterday in New York State Supreme Court. Here’s what the Washington Post says about the lawsuit:

Vaughn was humiliated, embarrassed and publicly mocked for the comments, the lawsuit claims. Her attorney, Richard Ancowitz, said: "The full effect of the damage remains to be seen…This is about Kia Vaughn's good name," Ancowitz said. "She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player--a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4."

4. 1 Huge Media Institution, 1 radio show host. Okay, as I bad-mouth him, Imus is forbidden to bad-mouth CBS unless he wants to go to court. He won’t, as he threatened after being fired for the aforementioned remarks, sue the network for $120 million. They won’t counter-sue, as long as he watches his mouth and doesn’t say anything disparaging about CBS. This is one among other undisclosed settlement terms between the network and the radio host.

The Vaughn defamation case should be an interesting one to follow. None of the other Rutgers players have filed suit against Imus yet. The Massey Energy defamation case appears to be a stretch at best, if not a continuation of Don Blankenship's political gripe with Democrats. The CEO, who "has contributed millions to campaigns against Democrats in West Virginia," felt the impact of the company's $1.5 million fine for safety violations found at the mine at the time of the fire that killed mineworkers back in 2006, according to the article.

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Posted at 12:12 PM, Aug 15, 2007 in
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