The Associated Press is reporting that the lobbyist the New York Times insinuated had an affair with John McCain (here is some background information on the NYT piece) has filed suit against the paper to the tune of $27 million:
A Washington lobbyist sued The New York Times for $27 million Tuesday over an article that she says gave the false impression she had an affair with Sen. John McCain in 1999.
Vicki L. Iseman filed the defamation suit in U.S. District Court in Richmond. It also names as defendants the Times' executive editor, its Washington bureau chief and four reporters.
Apparently she has wanted to sue since the story was published but she waited until now because she didn't want to become a distraction. But the lawsuit is very adamant in its charges of misconduct:
The Times was so concerned about being scooped that it printed a story "to pack the maximum sensational impact with the minimum factual support." The lawsuit contends she suffered an "avalanche of scorn, derision, and ridicule" that damaged her health.
The lawsuit cites accounts from other media, political pundits and the Times' public editor, Clark Hoyt, that interpreted the article as meaning that McCain and Iseman had an affair.
Despite this the NYT is standing by its story and will fight the lawsuit.
"We fully stand behind the article. We continue to believe it to be true and accurate, and that we will prevail," the statement said. "As we said at the time, it was an important piece that raised questions about a presidential contender and the perception that he had been engaged in conflicts of interest."
Unfortunately, even though the story they printed absolutely destroys all boundary of journalistic integrity, the NYT will probably defeat this suit. Suits against media outlets almost always lose. I'll leave you with the thoughts of Keith Werhan:
Keith Werhan, a constitutional law professor at Tulane University, said key to Iseman's case will be how the court defines her -- as a public figure or a private figure. Public figures have to meet a higher standard of proof, and show malice by a news outlet.
Werhan also said the Times could be protected if it accurately quoted McCain's former aides about their perceptions of his relationship with Iseman.
"If all those statements are true, then it seems to me the Times is not at fault for reporting that," Werhan said.
"It's essentially hard to win a defamation suit," Werhan added. "The idea is the First Amendment has its thumb on the press' side of scales."
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Excellent!
December 30, 2008 - 19:56 ET by SickofLibsJust make sure and get one of them Kennedy family lawyers, OK?
Just make sure and get one
December 30, 2008 - 21:58 ET by Dan The Man 2Just make sure and get one of them Kennedy family lawyers, OK?
Then again she could get my lawyers ... Smith and Wesson. They win lots of cases but the price is high.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Well Glory Be and
December 30, 2008 - 20:04 ET by bigtimerWell Glory Be and Hallelujah!!!!
Give it all you've got Vicki!
'Bout time somebody had some guts with this treasonous rag of a paper......
I have waited years patiently for something to be done from the Bush Justice Dept when it comes to these traitors printing classified info during this war, among other things....gave up long ago because of Gonzales doing nothing.
You go gal...all the way!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Right. If a person
December 30, 2008 - 20:18 ET by MidAmericaRight. If a person leaks classified intel to a foreign government they're tried for treason but if they give it to the media to print for all the world to see it's just freedom of the press printing info from a 'whistleblower'. So these people who sit in prison for stealing classified information instead of a clandestine 'drop' they should have made arrangements with the foreign government for payment and then 'drop' the information at the NYT and let them print it out. That way no crime is committed.
Good for her. Maybe if
December 30, 2008 - 20:05 ET by HockeyKidGood for her. Maybe if their flippant reporting gets to be expensive, they'll start hiring journalists again.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Unfortunately, even though
December 30, 2008 - 20:25 ET by R D HelmUnfortunately, even though the story they printed absolutely destroys
all boundary of journalistic integrity, the NYT will probably defeat
this suit. Suits against media outlets almost always lose.
That is something I would like to see change. Too many innocent people have had their lives destroyed by the thouroughly corrupt and out-of-control MSM.
Even if Iseman should lose the day, I hope her suit bleeds them dry.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon.
Them that ain’t get out of the way.”
Bwahahahahaha The
December 30, 2008 - 20:44 ET by 10thAmendmentBwahahahahaha
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
alternate headline ..
December 30, 2008 - 21:36 ET by Miss Cheviousfrom our local paper ... kind of hits the nail right on the head i thought ....
http://spotted.augusta.com/chronicle/display.html?&gallery=152509&page=1&photo=536166
Vera Baker
December 30, 2008 - 22:21 ET by VonuThe Times is right on this one. Go ahead and print the Vera Baker piece.
Bravo!
December 30, 2008 - 22:31 ET by Mark_for_SenateI hope she does well, and also hope that this will encourage many more to do the same. That agenda driven piece of crap needs to be destroyed. Not only does the free market do well in 'policing' shoddy products, mega-million dollar lawsuits will help to bleed the frauds to death! Perfect. Who's next?
To know and not do, is to not yet know
With their stocks being worth very little now...
December 30, 2008 - 22:37 ET by mizflame98...does the NY Times even have $27 million to pay this woman if she won?
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
mizflame... LMAO...good
December 30, 2008 - 22:50 ET by bigtimermizflame...
LMAO...good question...
Heck after the lawsuit and the case continues on with the fund I hear all msm critters of all venues have put away for just these type of things...I do wonder if they will have any $$$ left...wouldn't it be just delicious if she sank them just by this suit alone...
Well, one can hope...
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Lets keep our
December 30, 2008 - 22:56 ET by mizflame98Lets keep our fingers crossed that she sinks them faster than the Titanic. It would be a delight if the NY Times wound up so desperate that they had to sell out to Rupert Murdoch just to pay off the settlement. LMAO!!!!
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
MizFlame... Now I am
December 30, 2008 - 22:58 ET by bigtimerMizFlame...
Now I am roaring with laughter with your way of thinking gal...how delicious would that be...let alone priceless if they did have to sell out to good ol' Rupert!
Hope springs eternal!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
giggle!!
December 30, 2008 - 23:10 ET by mizflame98Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
The Times needs a new owner
December 31, 2008 - 03:33 ET by Andrew H.The Times needs a new owner and a thorough review of its hiring policies. Maybe she should consider...
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
question
December 31, 2008 - 00:05 ET by owlpelletsWill this even continue to get press or will these thugs close ranks to shut it up?
Don't blame me....I voted for Palin...
Hey howdy owl... You
December 31, 2008 - 00:10 ET by bigtimerHey howdy owl...
You just know this is going to be kept mum as much as possible.
We will have to get our news on the internet, or here at NBs to keep up-to-date.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Like usual
December 31, 2008 - 00:57 ET by Stephen GutowskiJust like usual...
You got that right Stephen,
December 31, 2008 - 01:17 ET by bigtimerYou got that right Stephen, I would not have even known about this today if it wasn't for you/NBs...and this story does make my day...I mean that.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Made me smile too
December 31, 2008 - 01:35 ET by Stephen GutowskiYea this story made me smile because I was glad to see this woman stand up for herself.
It will make me estatic if she could actually win... but thats doubtful with how much leway press is given in our country (not that the leway is a bad thing).
Stephen. you just never
December 31, 2008 - 01:41 ET by bigtimerStephen. you just never know, it may be the gift that keeps on giving...
I know the phrase "hope springs eternal" is old, but heck, I'm going to cross my fingers and hope.
You know, one of those hopey-changey type of things.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I think I know what the NYT's defense is going to be.
December 31, 2008 - 01:08 ET by R D HelmNYT attorney to presiding judge:
"Well, you're Honor, we feel that, due to the horribly shoddy reporting that has been going on by my client for so very long now, and because my client has had several people in their employ who were making up false news stories, and because my client allowed a fake letter that he thought was from the Mayor of Paris be published, only later to find out that the letter was actually fraudulent, and due to my client's rapidly declining circulation numbers, and due to the fact that almost no one takes my client's publication seriously anymore, anyway, we would like to respectfully ask the court to dismiss this case against my client, as my client published this story with the very reasonable assumption that nobody on Earth was going to actually read it, anyway."
LOL-Hey, it could happen.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon.
Them that ain’t get out of the way.”
....as my client published
December 31, 2008 - 01:13 ET by bigtimer....as my client published this story with the very reasonable assumption that nobody on Earth was going to actually read it, anyway."
ROFLMAO Dave...all of that was great, but the words above are especially hilariously true!
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
LOL, bt
December 31, 2008 - 01:29 ET by R D HelmHey, it might just work for them. :-)
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon.
Them that ain’t get out of the way.”
Hey Dave...that's why I'm
December 31, 2008 - 01:29 ET by bigtimerHey Dave...that's why I'm laughing...I would not doubt it for one nano-second.
Your post was great.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I don't think that excuse will even work.
December 31, 2008 - 08:58 ET by mizflame98Remember when the National Enquirer lost the lawsuit to Carol Burnett? If the tabloids which is known for gossip and far-fetched stories can't win in court, I don't see how the NY Times can win no matter how little circulation they might have.
Perfect Demotivator for the Obama Administration
http://www.despair.com/government.html
The only logical argument
December 31, 2008 - 01:36 ET by Stephen GutowskiThis is pretty much the only logical argument they have...
(You're hillarious by the way Dave)
Good, sock it to
December 31, 2008 - 10:25 ET by RR GOPGood, sock it to 'em.
Average folks have no real First Amendment rights any more...just politicians, celebs and reporters as they get away with waaaaay more than the rest of us ever would. I don't think the First Amendment was intended to be the sole realm of those with the capital to buy printing presses, nor those who can hide behind their popularity or official status.
For example, I'm still wondering if a nation-wide class action suit against Harry Reid for his comments on D.C. visitors would fly? Because, I'm sure if I told a judge that I could smell him/her long before I arrived in his/her courtroom, I'd be held in contempt. But, these judges and their unreal powers is for another discussion I guess...
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
the truth does not matter
December 31, 2008 - 10:49 ET by JIMMY1660i need some help with this one-BHO admits to using cocaine and other illegal substances. NYT does not say not one F word about his illegal activities. GWB has one too many glasses of wine, or John McCain is friendly with a Female and he is having an affair, and both are front page top of the fold articles. No wonder the NYT is in the toilet . and the editorial staff "stands behind" the story. $27 Million is not enough, put them in jail.
allow me to Love America