CBS Radio might be about to get a very expensive lesson in contract law, for terminated former “shock-jock” Don Imus has just hired topnotch legal counsel in what could be the most-watched trial since O.J. Simpson’s.
As reported by Hollywood Today (h/t Glenn Reynolds, emphasis added throughout):
Don Imus is suing CBS Radio for more than $40 million. He is suing for vindication, according to a media expert, who said “(Imus) wants his name cleared.”
The former talk show host hired one of the country’s top First Amendment trial lawyers to sue CBS for firing him over racial and sexual on-air comments. But Imus points out his contract calls for “irreverent” and “controversial,” and his “nappy-headed ho” remark was certainly that.
Hmmm. That was in the contract? It appears CBS somehow forgot:
[Attorney Martin] Garbus cited a contract clause where CBS acknowledged that Imus’ services were “unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial.” The clause said Imus’s programming was “desired by company and … consistent with company rules and policy,” said Garbus, whose clients have run from comic Lenny Bruce to filmmaker Spike Lee.
Moreover, sources said, the contract had a clause that required CBS to give him a warning before termination over content, which CBS apparently did not do in the heat of the controversy.
How absolutely delicious.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Noel,Revenge is a dish best s
May 3, 2007 - 19:45 ET by BlondeNoel,
Revenge is a dish best served cold.
I'm no Imus fan, but I hope CBS has to pay through the nose for their big cave to Sharpton & Jackson.
Next time, maybe whoever is threatened by these two will think twice before bowing to the self-appointed arbiters of p.c. idiocy.
NBC better get their checkboo
May 4, 2007 - 05:20 ET by Andrew H.NBC better get their checkbook out and ready. They done screwed up... maybe the rev Al can help 'em out.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Imus
May 4, 2007 - 08:29 ET by pbanks7As John McClane [Die Hard] would say: "Touche Motherf****r!"
I hope he wins big. If Al "Sharkton" and his ilk had let this alone, it would not have been noticed. Now "nappy-headed ho" is part of the American lexicon. The only one who has benefitted from this has been Sharkton.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
PB
May 4, 2007 - 09:23 ET by Noel SheppardPB,
I think you mean "Yippee Kayay, M**********r!"
Remember, he was talking to Hans about Roy Rogers. :-) ns
You took the time to count
May 4, 2007 - 09:50 ET by JDWYou took the time to count out the letters.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Yeah, but did he do it in h
May 4, 2007 - 09:59 ET by MightyMouthYeah, but did he do it in his head, or have to write it out first? $-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Typed it out and starred it
May 4, 2007 - 10:05 ET by JDWTyped it out and starred it with 'delete on'.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Thanks for the tip, I have
May 4, 2007 - 10:10 ET by MightyMouthThanks for the tip, I have been writing them down and counting the letters.
Needless to say, I have crossed out words all over my notepad.
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
If only I could make the sc
May 4, 2007 - 10:28 ET by JDWIf only I could make the scripting on this site function.
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
Blonde,I'm no Imus fan, eithe
May 4, 2007 - 09:03 ET by Dave RBlonde,
I'm no Imus fan, either, but I hope he cleans CBS's clock for three reasons.
1) They deserve it for their spineless pandering to Al & Jesse.
2) It just may interfere with the left's stated goal of getting rid of conservative commentators, thereby extending our God-given right to real free speech for just a little longer, though I believe we will ultimately lose that right in the end.
3) Because it will drive Al, Jesse and the rest of the professional race hustlers positively nuts. :-)
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.- Neal Boortz.
I think Anus is better-desc
May 4, 2007 - 09:32 ET by sarcasmoI think Anus is better-described as a shock-jock willing to occasionally have RINOs on, rather than anything like a conservative. Much less a commentator... But under the terms of his contract and considering the obvious fact that this is exactly the BS that CBS tried with Stern, I'm still with the loser against the losers.
JMR
Maybe CBS can counter sue the
May 3, 2007 - 20:04 ET by JABMaybe CBS can counter sue the racist's brothers and get their money back. Just a rhetorical thought, I know. Al & brother Jessie can only sue...not, be sued.
"Too bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
Judgement Sharpton
May 3, 2007 - 20:32 ET by allanfAs an interesting sidenote,Steven Pagones the Dutchess Country Assistant District Attorney, Sharpton falsely accused of raping Tawana Brawley, won a court judgement of 345,000 against Al Sharpton in 1997. Sharpton never apologized and only paid the judgement in 1999 when it would have been too inconvienent to have around during his presidential run. As for CBS, it would be fitting if their monetary losses from this debacle far exceed any loses that Sharpton's threat could have imposed. The behavior of CBS was cowardly and shameful.
allan, thanks for the memory
May 3, 2007 - 20:55 ET by JABallan, thanks for the memory jog. Rev. Al, the Dem's and the MSM did put the Kbosh on that issue in a hurry, did they not?
I sincerely hope Imus causes them severe financial pain (not that I care about Imus) because they deserve it!
"Too bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
For CBS in this instance, ign
May 3, 2007 - 20:58 ET by King of the BritonsFor CBS in this instance, ignorance may be very painful.
Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!´´
--Patrick Henry
Very well said King, financia
May 3, 2007 - 21:19 ET by JABVery well said King, financially speaking anyway.
"Too bad Ignorance isn't painful..."
Well, this is backfiring nice
May 3, 2007 - 21:04 ET by dahliatraversWell, this is backfiring nicely on CBS. Now they'll have to pay him but not receive his services.
Noel, you don't think CBS should have fired Imus?
DT
May 3, 2007 - 21:33 ET by Noel SheppardDT,
No. This is what he does, and has been doing for years. Firing him for that statement would be similar to CBS firing a rapper for saying the same thing.
Don Imus didn't just start being irreverent and, at times, vulgar. Been doing it for years. That's what they gave him $40 million for.
The double standard for language in our country is getting absurd. That there are actually words one ethnic group is allowed to use that none other can is preposterous. And, the fact that this list of words can be added to at the sole discretion of the leaders of that group is similarly obscene. ns
The one positive out of Imus'
May 3, 2007 - 21:37 ET by Gat New YorkThe one positive out of Imus' firing is that I listen locally to WFAN and Imus replacement has been this week Boomer Esiason and Monica Crowley. Boomer is Republican. All Imus was forced to have were left wing people from NBC and Newsweek. Even Charles McCord, who is a conservative and had to be silent on MSNBC, was once again vocal about his leanings.
But I still hope Imus gets every red cent of that contract.
Noel,Imus aside for the mom
May 4, 2007 - 10:46 ET by Dave RNoel,
Imus aside for the moment, there is a far larger issue involved here that I think many are not seeing. If a couple of lefty frauds (Al & Jesse) are able to get a committed lib off the air, then it will simply embolden the liberal fascists to go after other, more conservative commentators. What is more, they will not be satisfied with just the scalps of Rush, Sean, Neal and the rest, either.
This nonsense needs to be nipped in the budd now, otherwise it will fester just below the surface and somewhere down the road will pop up again, perhaps with a Democrat residing in the whitehouse. :-O
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.-
Neal Boortz.
Hi Noel, ACA's back, here's the take on Imus.
May 3, 2007 - 21:42 ET by acaiguanaHi Noel, ACA's back, here's the take on Imus.
Imus the Marine, is what the MSM Marines always were during his time, the false epitome of the Viet Nam Veteran who didn't go nuts, but who used a bunch of drugs, got cool, finally got old, kicked the habit and made not 'conservative' pro-Nixon waves.
He was the Darling of the Left and their false lying Icon of the real Veteran.
His demise is the example of how far the Left is willing to go to destroy the 'Bush War'.
It is sick. I finally get to publish here my real opinion of Imus.
Imus was and still is a false prophet of what the real Viet Nam Veteran is and continues to be today. The real Viet Nam Veteran is a guy who works at trying to have a family like all the rest; continues to work to be 'normal' like all the rest' resists the stereotype of bulls*** protrayed by Rambo and Marlon Brando and the rest of Hollywood ilk; works to be a Grandfather, a Father and and member of the Rotary.
Darn them... the Democrats who continue to try to define me and the rest...
Darn them to heck.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
ACA
May 3, 2007 - 21:49 ET by Noel SheppardACA,
Well comb bag broth eh. Ware deck Cuban? :-) ns
I be in Petaluma... Let's do lunch..
May 3, 2007 - 21:51 ET by acaiguanaI be in Petaluma... Let's do lunch..
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
ACA
May 3, 2007 - 21:54 ET by Noel SheppardACA,
Petaluma? Watt deck cue dune dare? ns
Give me 3 minutes and check PM. ACA
May 3, 2007 - 21:57 ET by acaiguanaGive me 3 minutes and check PM. ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Hey aca...Secret codes and al
May 3, 2007 - 22:07 ET by bigtimerHey aca...
Secret codes and all I am glad to see ya back, been wondering about you and going to post so pretty soon....anyway, then I saw you on the users/posters name list a few days back, so knew you were alive.
Missed you.
Hey BT, one of these days I'll be under your porch.
May 3, 2007 - 22:24 ET by acaiguanaHey BT, one of these days I'll be under your porch.
How's it been?
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
ACA,Nice to see ya back.This
May 4, 2007 - 08:55 ET by Dave RACA,
Nice to see ya back.
This republic will not survive the continued neglect of its people.- Neal Boortz.
CBS fired him on the spot a
May 3, 2007 - 22:38 ET by JDWCBS fired him on the spot against the provisions of his contract. And why not pull a full tapes from shows over the previous decade as evidence? One would think money would be the last concern on CBS's mind in settlement of this matter.
We also have ABC's Rosie to consider. If Imus needs precedent...
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
If Imus' contract is as state
May 3, 2007 - 22:43 ET by BlondeIf Imus' contract is as stated, above, CBS is in for a world of hurt, and rightfully so.
I hope it is so supremely painful that no one in the media ever again gives any credence to the highway robbers and racial grifters....Jackson and Sharpton.
Oh, how I hope the racial hens come home to roost.
As much as I dislike Don Imus, I hope he wins this one.
Object lessons are painful, or at least they should be. And if they're painful enough, hopefully these race-baiting trolls will be put out of business.
But the reason one dislikes Imus is more important than this.
May 3, 2007 - 22:48 ET by acaiguanaBut the reason one dislikes Imus is more important than this.
He could be funny ...
But he was irrelevant to the real stuff. Always. And that is NY.
So, I hate to irritate the New Yorkers on the site, but guys - you weren't always right. In fact, sometime you supported the drones created by the media who were supposed to be 'cool';. But unfortunately...
were not.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
ACA,The reason I dislike Imus
May 3, 2007 - 22:55 ET by BlondeACA,
The reason I dislike Imus is (1) he's not funny, (2) he's liberal (3) he's not funny (4) he looks like an idiot...anyone his age should look age appropriate (5) he's not funny (6) he wears a stupid cowboy hat, which is a total disconnect with his accent (7) he's not funny.
And for the New Yawkas on this site...oh well....there's life outside of the City.
So what?
Well, don't hold back.
May 3, 2007 - 23:09 ET by acaiguanaWell, don't hold back.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana Notes from the Bomb Shelter' (soon to be a movie at theaters near you)
Pot calling Kettle.
May 3, 2007 - 23:13 ET by BlondePot calling Kettle.
he looks like an idiotI enjoy
May 4, 2007 - 21:12 ET by dahliatravershe looks like an idiot
I enjoyed Imus at times; he could be very fast on the draw. But now that he's going to get $40m, I can say: USE SOME OF IT TO GET A HAIRCUT. The 1970's rockstar hair only looks good on someone under 30.
Yea! Aca is back. Anythin
May 4, 2007 - 21:14 ET by dahliatraversYea! Aca is back. Anything new with the iguanas?
Again I say: "Touche Mo
May 4, 2007 - 08:39 ET by pbanks7Again I say: "Touche Motherf****r!"
The MSM has been hyping these two race hustlers for years. Now they're going to see their own political correctness backfire on them, and get creamed from another one of their favorite constituencies: trial lawyers.
Who are they going to circle the wagons around this time? This is juicy and delicious.
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
Soros runs the show. I refe
May 4, 2007 - 09:31 ET by JDWSoros runs the show. I referred to Rosie, remember that she is quoting stats from his misery indexes. The IU $5 million donation which provided a study on O'Reilly and the ability for her to interject those findings from the mastermind MMatters.
Since Imus was on the dem side his entire career why would it make any sense to take him down? Was it him or something more? If more what do the dems absolutely detest, what WP writer sent them into a frizzy and why?
JDW
News media: Scoreboard for terrorists
I still think Imus is an idiot
May 3, 2007 - 22:50 ET by Free StinkerI Smell Refund!
But I still think Imus is an idiot. Just like the dolts at SeeBS that kept him on the air until recently.
imus contract
May 3, 2007 - 23:06 ET by m1xramWatched Fox News talk to their judge who was shown part of the contract. Basically, Imus was required to be rude and crude. It also stipulated that he was to be warned if there was a problem, before termination. For instance, if Imus was not rude or crude his employer must warn him first before taking further action.
Because they did not notify him that there was a problem, Imus' contract was violated. Also, there was nothing to notify Imus about because he was fulfilling his contract as stipulated.
This lesson will cost CBS $40 million, but will they learn? If you don't want annoying people in your employ don't hire them to be annoying. Sleep with dogs and you're bound to get fleas.
m1xram
With imus and perkless katie
May 3, 2007 - 23:30 ET by upcountrywaterWith imus and perkless katie cBS is losing MONEY ...LMAO
This may surprise people, b
May 4, 2007 - 09:01 ET by sarcasmoThis may surprise people, but I'm with Anus on his lawsuit despite not being a fan at all and being with the ad buyers on firing him. CBS made a big mistake all right, but that mistake was rehiring Anus in the first place. They have a pattern of trying to weasel-out of contracts with controversial talent, and they have a history of losing legal cases when they try that lame-ass move, so despite the fact that in this case it's a loser vs multiple losers IMO, I hope the loser wins and the losers lose this time.
JMR
Okay, now THAT is hilariously
May 4, 2007 - 10:23 ET byOkay, now THAT is hilariously funny. I love it! loll....
And I have no idea if I would even like anything about any content on his show, as I never listened to it, but he should not have been fired for that --when it was his job to say stuff outrageous.
Debra.. ::::: Laughing :::::