Earlier this year, a woman killed herself after being interviewed by CNN Headline News host Nancy Grace over the apparent abduction of her son. At the time (see this September NB posting for background), the relatives of Melinda Duckett were blasting Grace for her alleged role in driving the woman to suicide. They've since taken things a step further and launched a lawsuit against Grace:
Her parents in Lockport were outraged by the talk show hosts harsh, accusatory line of questioning. The segment aired just hours after her death.
Melinda's father, Jerry Eubank: "It was 3-4 hours after I heard that Mindy died and I'm watching this woman banging the table, and screaming about why aren't you telling us this, I mean she was judge, jury and executioner."
Melinda's mother, Beth Eubank: "She physically makes me ill. The night she aired the show on September 8th, it was less than four hours since Mindy's death, family members had not even been notified."
CNN had this response to the news that the Lockport couple is now suing Nancy Grace: "While we have no comment on pending litigation, we stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this matter."
Whatever Grace's role in the Duckett case has been, her relatives stand little chance of getting a verdict against the CNN host. I can't help wondering, though, if this suit continues whether it will give pause to the cable news channels thinking about revamping their lineups. Crime may bring viewers, but it's also playing with fire.
—Matthew Sheffield is the creator of NewsBusters and its Executive Editor.




















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Comments Policy
Suing TV Personalities
November 22, 2006 - 17:56 ET by exLibI am surprised this hasn't happened sooner. Or maybe it has and the cases were thrown out of court or a lawyer refused the case based on the possibility of winning.
Dr. Laura gives some advice I find dangerous or at least questionable. I have also heard other Radio people give callers "advice" and you just never know what can happen.
I don't know whether this wil
November 22, 2006 - 18:00 ET by BlondeI don't know whether this will cause the cable networks to change much. They ought to consider it though. A focus on actual news, instead of tabloid crime stories, might actually improve viewership.
I mean seriously, does anyone watch Greta Van Sustern?
It absolutely won't change a
October 28, 2008 - 13:15 ET by tshellIt absolutely won't change a thing...any press is good press especially if it benefits guzzlers...and the jewish run liberal media cannot resist...and by the way, greta van susteren is hot...
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"spinal decompression for a better you...safe and healthful alternatives"
I Do, Blonde!
November 22, 2006 - 18:10 ET by CGattonLOL
Sure I do! She's from the Appleton area, about 90 miles from me, and we've exchanged a couple of e-mails over the years. Don't particularly care for her politics, and frequently disagree with her analysis, but she does a wonderful job of giving balance to FoxNews from the middle of the liberal spectrum. Don't watch her all the time, but often enough.
V/R
Clyde
"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC
Clyde - Greta
November 22, 2006 - 18:25 ET by BlondeClyde,
Actually, I used to watch Greta before she went on the great crime news spree.
She's quite a good interviewer...I remember a segment she did on the B-2...she even did an interview of the pilot from the cockpit.
But after Nancy Halloway became a steady feature....I just flip right on through her show. I wish she'd get off the crime & legal topics...as I said, she's a good interviewer, and when out of her comfort zone, you can tell she's done her research.
I thought about the MadisonMichelle thing when posting here...but didn't want to tempt fate, so to speak. ;-)
On Greta van Susteren
November 23, 2006 - 00:05 ET by UnsaneGreta van Susteren? Ugh. Starting with the Laci Peterson story. "Tonight, an interview with a crime scene expert on hand to determine what Laci Peterson had for breakfast effected her disappearance in any way..."
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Greta
November 23, 2006 - 00:09 ET by misterbillThe only time I watched her was when poor Natalie Holloway disappeared in Aruba. I thought Greta did a good job there. I quickly lost interest in her show after that.
Greta!! 0200 bro, uhhh, not r
November 22, 2006 - 18:16 ET by slaphappyGreta!! 0200 bro, uhhh, not really..
"A focus on actual news, instead of tabloid crime stories, might actually improve viewership"-Blonde... But what happens when the news agency becomes the news? (CNN airs US Marine snuff film)....... CNN borders on shock value these days. Just stay tuned as,"the wicked this way will come"-Thissss issss CNN !!!....
slaphappy,CNN, and their airi
November 22, 2006 - 18:30 ET by Blondeslaphappy,
CNN, and their airing of that clip, was as vile a piece of (can't quite bring myself to call it journalistm) propaganda as I've ever seen. And to add insult to injury, they then defended it....flopping around in their rationales for doing so a la John F'ing. Disgusting.
BTW...how did your botox run go yesterday? I figured you really meant nitrox, or maybe it was just code for a beer run.
Exactly Blonde, lets keep CN
November 22, 2006 - 19:00 ET by slaphappyExactly Blonde, lets keep CNN the news. Instead of reporting it. And God have no mercy on CNN for the airing of that snuff film...
LOL. actually, I was making a reference to Pelosi and botox. But only you and I and a few others would catch the reference to beer run. When someone gets bent, they had a botox experience, when they get relief out of the chamber they have been de-botoxed...LOLOL...and when on the beach, grabin some botox is another way of sayin´ bubbles in the brain..hence, beer run...And no nitrox for me bro, heliox on bottom..
I fell out of my rocker when I read your post...Damn funny my man...Hey have you seen my rugby queen lately?.....
slaphappy,I've never done any
November 22, 2006 - 19:11 ET by Blondeslaphappy,
I've never done any technical diving, but I have a friend who does (caves, too...that gives me the real heebie jeebies). So I get to listen to him blather on about it.
I just want the lobsters.
Death to CNN!
I dive my own traps here in B
November 22, 2006 - 19:29 ET by slaphappyI dive my own traps here in Brazil, fresh lobster my man...and ta hell with cavin..
I love the exposure CNN thinks they are generating. 2 major hotel chains in the states have canceled CNN..(grab the link in a minute)...Yes CNN, you are ever soooo popular..
However, CNN ´states´ is much different than CNN international , which is what I get on the latter.. Just as biased I suppose...go gre-ta, go gre-ta, go gre-ta.....Ok, as I was...I think.
As you were....hmm....having
November 22, 2006 - 19:35 ET by BlondeAs you were....hmm....having to much fun, I think.
CNN International is probably even more disgusting than what we get here in the States. Wouldn't know...could hardly be bothered to watch either one.
Lucky dog...diving all the time. Green as spinach.
Meu casa sua casa amigo Blond
November 22, 2006 - 20:01 ET by slaphappyMeu casa sua casa amigo Blonde.
And here´s the link that a hotel chain is dropping CNN like a bad Fwench course... I guess it´s one chain not two, my bad..
No offence to the French...Now, i´m off for botox therapy. C.A.I.R to join me Alpelosi?
Designated driver.Happy Thank
November 22, 2006 - 20:03 ET by BlondeDesignated driver.
Happy Thanksgiving, guy.
Stupid question from the Iowa guy
November 22, 2006 - 20:08 ET by nkviking75Blonde, please enlighten this landlubber: What's technical diving? That sounds like an Olympic competition in a swimming pool, but obviously that's not what you're talking about.
nk,I do what would be known a
November 22, 2006 - 20:16 ET by Blondenk,
I do what would be known as "sports" diving....with scuba gear. Practicable limit is about a hundred feet, but for sports divers like myself, who don't practice the art on a daily, or even weekly basis....to keep it simple and to keep out of trouble, we limit ourselves to about 60 feet in depth.
Technical diving is an entirely different sport. It's deep diving. And it's very technical. If you screw up just once, you're liable to be dead. It involves breathing mixtures that are not just compressed air, as us sport divers do. Nitrox, I believe (although I'm not well versed)...which is a mix of nitrogen and oxegyn, to stave off decompression problems.
The kind of diving that slaphappy does is way beyond technical....he's a professional diver and I haven't a clue what is involved in that...although I know it's kind of in the sci fi realm.
Hope that helped.
Taking a dive
November 22, 2006 - 20:23 ET by nkviking75Sounds challenging. I got spooked by a fish swimming by in a lake when I was five, and never have had a lot of enthusiasm for swimming in natural bodies of water. I'll happily settle for the indoor pool at the Y. Although if I ever get a chance to wade into the ocean, I may throw caution to the wind. A tiny bit.
Blonde,Funny you asked about
November 23, 2006 - 00:27 ET by msh1973Blonde,
Funny you asked about Van Sustern...evidently people do watch her, because she beat Laura Ingraham who was filling in for Bill O'Reilly last night. Go figure. At least that is what Laura said on her own program today.
I just don't buy it
November 22, 2006 - 18:11 ET by SportPoliticsI just don't buy it. If somebody isn't already hellbent on offing themselves, Nancy Grace isn't going to make them do it, and I don't buy the "sent them over the edge" crap either.
Noone can make you do it, no matter what they try to do to you. Look at John McCain and his story. He may say his buddies brought him through, but that sob would have come out of there even if it were solitary.
Oh look at this, now here's what's really going on:
[ The night she aired the show on September 8th, it was less than four hours since Mindy's death, family members had not even been notified." ]
Ahh, there we are. Dead and that terrible person was " talking about her on TV".
" I just don't buy it.
November 23, 2006 - 00:35 ET by ckc1227" I just don't buy it. If somebody isn't already hellbent on offing themselves, Nancy Grace isn't going to make them do it, and I don't buy the "sent them over the edge" crap either."
I agree. I do think perhaps a suit is in order though, not because she killed herself, but because the nancy grace people misrepresented themselves when putting the deal together. Don't tell folks one thing to get them on the show, and then do something completely different.
I wonder if they might have a case for slander against nancy? She made some pretty outrageous claims that haven't been backed up.
Please Let This Thread Die!
November 22, 2006 - 18:17 ET by CGattonMatt, I'm sorry, but I don't think I could handle another 3 weeks of MichellefromMadison's rants!
On a more serious note, I believe the judge should quash this case before it ever gets going, but my guess is that it was filed in a friendly court, and a friendly judge will be shopped to try it. Who knows what the end result will be.
V/R
Clyde
"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC
Sport and Gatton--While I can
November 22, 2006 - 19:19 ET by thefirststrikeSport and Gatton--
While I can certainly see the point you are trying to make...I must disagree. It is entirely possible that this women was already unhinged from the loss of her son and Nancy did in fact push her over the edge. What makes you (especially you Sport) qualified to judge otherwise? Do you have some insight into how this woman was feeling or what she was thinking when Nancy started ranting and banging the table and essentially accusing (by indirect implication) this woman of killing her son?
For example, we know that police negotiators are careful to keep hostage takers/terrorists etc. cool and calm when dealing with them so they don't get unhinged and start killing people. Assuming that this women was as distraught as you would expect a mother to be over her son being missing (and also presuming her innocence, a concept that our justice system is predicated upon), what makes you think that Nancy Grace couldn't have pushed her over the edge and helped start this woman on her self-destructive path?
But the bigger issue in my mind is...what the hell did this Nancy Grace be-yotch think she was doing? IT IS NOT HER PLACE to be hassling a bereaved mother (whether she be a victim or a suspect) like this. Grace was WAY out of line and should be severly reprimanded by her own bosses, and definitely by the police.
Performing an interrogation of a victim or suspect of a crime is a delicate matter, and should be handled by trained professional LAW ENFORCEMENT personnel, not by some overzealous, over-bearing, arrogant media blowhard who thinks her sh-t doesn't stink!!
Reporters and journalists exist to REPORT the news, not MAKE it!!
This is an issue that has been touched on repeatedly in this and many other forums, and it is one that needs to be dealt with by the media and the American public. People like Nancy Grace need to be reminded of their place.
You wouldn't want a plumber doing brain surgery, it isn't his area of expertise or even his responsibility. And these arrogant self-important media zealots need to remember just who they are...they are NOT the police, the judge, or the court. They need to keep their noses out of law enforcement and stick to what they are supposed to do...REPORT the news, not make the news!! If a lawsuit is what it takes to remind them of this, then so be it.
D.J.R.
In Large Part I Agree, But....
November 22, 2006 - 20:48 ET by CGatton"...Reporters and journalists exist to REPORT the news, not MAKE it!!..."
With this I agree whole heartedly, but we have different interpretations as to what happened on the show, I guess.
I have no crystal ball, and my turkey entrails are frozen yet - sorry, no fresh chicken ones available- so these observations are just that, my observations. Frankly, this entire story appears to me just another attention grab by some lawyer. (Did you know that the Idaho accent pronounces 'lawyer' as 'liear', lol) Most importantly, it has nothing to do with the overt nature of this site, the 'outing' of media bias.
R/
Clyde
"...the aspirants to tyranny are either the...men of the state, who in democracies are demagogues,... or those who hold great offices, and have a long tenure.." - Aristotle, Politics, c350BC
Freewill
November 23, 2006 - 00:11 ET by UnsaneAt what point does FREEWILL enter the picture? If Nancy Grace is to blame, I should be dead thousands of times over from listening to:
"Suicide's an Alternative" and "Suicidal Failure" by Suicidal Tendencies
"Suicide Solution" by Ozzy Osbourne (even though it's about alcoholism)
The Judas Priest Stained Class album which allegedly sent two teenage boys to their death circa 1990 (that was shot down in court)
"Mandatory Suicide" and the cover of "Richard Hung Himself" by Slayer
"In The End" by Alex Lifeson off the Victor album
"The Pass" by Rush off of the Presto album
Yet, obviously, I am still here.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Unsane
November 27, 2006 - 07:09 ET by SportPoliticsUnsane, I'm afraid the liberal mindset and teaching that the USA is an evil hegemonous empire of totalitarianism all about the world and is ready to implode by it's own disgusting corruption in that vein and has utterly destroyed the Founding Fathers bastion of freedom and shat upon the Constitution and all it's tenets under the fool vile imposed from above reign of GWB might be a bit more potent medicine for encouragement in "offing" oneself.
I note you aren't a true believer and adherent of the above, hence you're alive and prove my point utterly. LOL
Well thefirststrike
November 27, 2006 - 07:15 ET by SportPoliticsWell thefirststrike, you have enough complaints there that Nancy is guilty no matter what the charges or lawsuit, or lack thereof.
I don't consider Nancy Grace a journalist or reporter, although she was a former prosecutor wasn't she ?
These new shows on "news channels" aren't all news by reporters.
She uses her former "prosecutorial" skills to hammer away, it has nothing really to do with "reporting" IMO. It's like Judge Judy, it's a SHOW. -lol - Sorry, I understand she isn't judge, jury, or executioner, and of course, none of her comments or inquisitions are binding in any court of law I know of.
A false accusation upon someone produces ANGER, not despair, BTW.
Facts are the facts about Nancy...... still!
November 27, 2006 - 06:54 ET by Michelle from MadisonHey CGatton, are the things I mentioned months ago about Nancy Grace that turned out to be all true starting to scare you some? (Law violations by Grace and such). Do not let the facts scare you. Nancy should be in jail or prison for the crimes she has perpetrated upon victims. Education to the facts remains key. You are for “Justice”, aren’t you?
Better get to it then Michelle from Madison
November 27, 2006 - 07:18 ET by SportPoliticsBetter get to it then M&M, educatin' yerselfs upons the key factses as they have becomst availslable inst the narr fewcher. Letsus knows whichin laws she darn brokun whenst yaz can, iffin yaz everz finds out.
lasterz
i hope that this leads to new
November 22, 2006 - 19:32 ET by buddyci hope that this leads to new and more expanded litigation against people in the news business. grace is nasty human being. i can't think of anyone i would rather see face the legal process that she champions to destroy the pre-trail "guilty". i picture here in her prior life as a part of the french revolution cutting off peoples heads without a trial. as i recall they turned on each other and many suffered the same fate they dished out.
i would hope that a liberal activist judge will create a tort similar to products libability that allows us to sue news casters for fraud, deceit, conspiracy and false advertising not for our financial damages but for deprivation of a fundamental rights. i see duty, breach of duty, damages and proximate cause here.
My issue with the Grace case
November 22, 2006 - 20:27 ET by Andrew H.My issue with the Grace case is the lawsuit. I have enjoyed her most of the time as she covered various criminal cases and as I recall, she was clear during the clinton games. His stonewalling, coverup, her lost records, his perjury and their delay tactics (which led to the costs the dems still use to harrang those charged with enforcing the law then and the correct action taken by the congress (although too many ultimately took the coward's way out)--the whole affair... was pretty well seen for what it was by Nancy. I am certain she was on the right side. The clinton outrageous abuse of our time and money brought Nancy, Greta and one of my favorite all time authors and speakers--the late, great Barbara Olson into their own.
Lawsuits cost us millions every year. In every state the citizens should mandate a loser pays system. In every state, judges should be appointed based on their years not working as a trial lawyer. There has to be a better way. (You can't get a fair shake from those in the legal extortion club; they protect their own in terms of bank accounts). Judges should throw the frivolous lawsuits out quickly--and make the trial lawyer pay for the defense.
This in my view is a frivolous lawsuit. I saw the show and in my view she didn't badger this woman. The woman came on the show knowing she was going to be asked questions and Nancy asked questions. Sadly, in all probability, she was asking questions of a killer.
Never relent.
I agree with you
November 22, 2006 - 22:11 ET by terrigI will be honest, I don't mind Nancy Grace & I usually watch her when O'Reilly is off (unless Laura Ingrahm is guest hosting). I saw this episode too as my mother was talking about the case as it wasn't too far from where they live. I think the family is just looking for bucks. It seems though that there is more to this case then meets the eye. I think this woman had something to do with the disappearance of her son. As for the ad nauseum coverage by both Nancy & Greta on that stupid Natalee Holloway story-I thought I was going to spit nails everytime it was on tv. There are thousands of missing children and young people in this country who get no air time. However, this bimbo's mother must have known someone because she was there all the time. Yes, people do vacation and sometimes die (as happened to one of my friends) because they let their guard down and hook up with people they shouldn't. She wasn't the first and unfortunately she won't be the last.
Melinda Duckett the porno queen
November 27, 2006 - 10:10 ET by SportPoliticsMelinda Duckett the porno queen:
[ A source told Local 6 News that the Web site operator paid Duckett to videotape herself nude and even provided the camera equipment for about two years.
"Although detectives have ruled out any connection between the Web site and Trenton's disappearance, authorities acknowledge they never interviewed the Web site operator saying, 'We didn't need to,'" DeForest said.
"If there are other parties involved in the video, then naturally those are individuals who, for lack of a better term, have an intimate relationship with Melinda -- we don't know who those people are and what their background is," Turner said.]
[ A witness said she saw Trenton with his mother, Melinda Duckett, hours before his reported disappearance, said Capt. Jimmy Pogue of the Marion County Sheriff's Office. The witness reported seeing Melinda Duckett with the boy at a restaurant in Belleview on Aug. 27, Pogue said. Belleview is 20 miles northwest of Leesburg, where Trenton lived with his mother and her grandparents. Authorities focused on Melinda Duckett after some of Trenton's toys, photographs and a sonogram photo were found in a trash bin in her apartment complex a day after he was reported missing. She refused to take a polygraph test, apparently on the advice of her lawyer. ]
You libs are proving what t
November 23, 2006 - 01:00 ET by liberal_bug_zapperYou libs are proving what type of people you are. Never responsible for your own actions. It's always someone elses fault.
You're fat.... I know, sue McDonalds.
You're dying of lung cancer.... sue Marlboro.
You cut your leg on a carving knife after having fallen through a skylight while attempting to break into someone's house... sue the home owner.
This is just one more example of what modern day Liberalism supports.
The idiot Republicans were so blind, they gave up their chance to get good tort reform.
It's a good thing the idiot woman killed herself. One less stupid person we have to shoulder the burdens for. I just wish more Liberals would follow suit.... I mean hey, it's not like it's a bad thing right? Dr. Kevorkian anyone? If you want to see the perfect Liberal world, just watch Logan's Run.
lol liberal_bug_zapper
November 27, 2006 - 07:46 ET by SportPoliticslol
Logan's Run, the final liberal solution. Population control, food soyant green sourcing by the state, a total life cut short at 30 contained under the dome, youthful sexual humping till state required execution, with all not willing to comply hunted down and ruthlessly terminated, perpetuated by lies about now and the hereafter "reincarnation".
roflmao - It is the lib utopia - now they just need the global thermonuclear population control and nuclear winter to offset global warming and implement the "new way".
Nancy "Dis"Grace
November 23, 2006 - 12:11 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasIn the end this is about suing Nancy Grace for being the nasty, manipulative, lying witch that she is and if on-air or any personality could be successfully sued for that then Barbara Walters would have been sued 1,000 times already.
The lawsuit won't stand up but it would be nice to see CNN recognize just how inappropriate Nancy "Dis"Grace is, but the odds of CNN having a moral conscience is like waiting for Sean Hannity to provide some original thought.
I am a member of LSCA (Lazy Spell Checkers Anonymous).
Nancy - gnashing of teeth and lethal injection
November 23, 2006 - 12:26 ET by PlaceboMy better-half convulses when Nancy is on: so, I switch on Nancy to witness the gnashing of teeth. I’m not a fan, by a long shot; Nancy is the quintessential judge, Jury and executioner rolled into one. I don’t know where this suit will go, but it will, in all likelihood, go for naught.
I am not a fan either, howe
November 23, 2006 - 12:50 ET by Conservative VoiceI am not a fan either, however I think we need to remove personal feelings and judge on the merits of the case. Should the media be responsible for how people react to their show (not just the person on the show, but the audience as well)? If so, where do you draw the line? Surely the media can fan the flames or push in a certain outcome, we all saw that during the elections. Who is responsible for drinking the kool aid, Jim Jones or his followers? That being said, Nancy didn't tell anyone they should kill themselves. If she did, should she be responsible? Remove Nancy from the equation, and ask yourself given person A, is person's A's speech make the person liable for person B's actions?
What about lib immolator ?
November 27, 2006 - 08:37 ET by SportPoliticsWhat about lib immolator ? I think Bush owes bigtime, since libby wacko war protestor doused himself in gasoline, and lit himself on fire on a Chicago offramp.
Now heck, this war is "Bush's", and this guy was so hurt by it all, including Bush torture and terrorism, that he offed himself. Now, that makes Bush as or more liable than Nancy.
Maybe Mad Michelle can work up the papers that need to be filed to "take Bush down".
Hope the NG lawsuit prevails
November 23, 2006 - 17:04 ET by LionKingIf this lawsuit prevails, we can start suing people for all kinds of things that we find offensive...Helen Thomas's ugliness... Hillary Clinton's existence.
There will be no end. More fodder for them lawyers.