minuites ago I read that 2 men are suing Michael Richards over his comments. So my questiuon is: What legal standing do they have to file a lawsuit? They were not physically injured, and free speach is still protected. The only way I see they would be entitled to damages is if was a libel lawsuit, which would make no sense.
2006-11-26 10:22:41 · 9 answers · asked by james_b_98661 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
update.......My somewhat limited understanding of the law is that to receive a legal judgement, they must show they suffered damages. So agin, What LEGAL damages did they suffer?
2006-11-26 10:36:08 · update #1
No legal standing. They paid to watch a show in a private club, not a public place. Comedy shows are notorious for language and can say anything they want to and comedians are notorious for humiliating hecklers. The only compensation they are entitled to is their money back from the club if they are unhappy with the show. It's simple.....they paid to see a crappy comedian, what did they expect? The two black guys should have been thrown out of the club when they heckled immediately before it got out of hand.
2006-11-28 15:30:02 · answer #1 · answered by 2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not a real lawsuit. They can't honestly sue him. Their attorney, the infamous Gloria Allred, wants a retired judge with some standing to hear the case informally, and PERSAUDE Richards that voluntary compensation is a just and fair thing to do.
So its more of a mock trial, with the hopes Richards will pay them off to restore his rep if a high standing retired judge sides against him.
2006-11-26 19:58:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well you know people are looking for the meal ticket in the courts,and Richards is a liberal.I heard the guys were calling him names through out the show,if thats the case,they dont have a ground to stand on and I believe when you are in a comedy club you are subjected to anything,youre an open target.I hope it gets thrown out.
2006-11-26 18:27:28 · answer #3 · answered by halfbright 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Their lawyer is probably a money grubbing conservative who will do anything for a buck. He wouldn't put them up to this if he did'nt smell $$$ and a 1/3 cut for himself in the end. For a lawyer like that, this is all just about business. Guess you could just say he's a smart businessman. Or a dirt bag. Or both. I don't blame the two guys for trying a lawsuit. It's not costing them a dime. It's a contingency case for sure. They're just being good capitalists and taking advantage of the situation for personal gain. This is a good business deal for them.
A bad deal for Richards.
2006-11-26 19:11:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it will be thrown out, it would seem as a comedy club is a public forum at which the audience becomes involved by heckling the performer. Kramer was just speaking his mind. Even if he and some others think he lost it.
2006-11-26 18:35:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the formal allegation would be Slander. I don't think a lawsuit is the way to deal with the situation.
2006-11-26 18:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like "Kramer", and I don't think no one has the right to sue anyone over racist remarks because Micheal Richards never personalized those black men. I'm sure it might have been different if he actually knew these individuals.
2006-11-26 18:33:00 · answer #7 · answered by shorty73 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
see the question is not whether it was the right of speech, but whether his right of speech infringed on their right to live without discrimination. there is a quote "you have the right to punch me as long as long as the punch does not hit my nose, as that is where your right to pucn ends, and my rights begin", unfortunately, here, they did feel hurt. They felt insecure. That is perhaps why the court case is gong through.
2006-11-26 18:31:45 · answer #8 · answered by John Frusciante 1 · 0⤊ 3⤋
we'd all be rich if we sued anytime we were called a derogatory name due to our race/ethnicity.
2006-11-26 18:31:48 · answer #9 · answered by whatwhatwhat 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋