Tuesday, August 14, 2007

I was waiting for this!

According to ABC News, one of the Rutgers University basketball players who was dissed by Don Imus is determined to "get her good name back." And, no doubt, enjoy a whopping payday.

Kia Vaughn, star center for the Rutgers Women's Basketball team, has filed a lawsuit against Imus for libel, slander, and defamation -- the first civil suit to be filed against the former radio host. Vaughn is asking for monetary damages of an unspecified amount.

"This is a lawsuit in order to restore the good name and reputation of my client, Kia Vaughn," said her attorney, Richard Ancowitz, in an exclusive interview with the ABC News Law & Justice Unit.

The suit names Imus individually, but is also against MSNBC, NBC Universal, CBS Radio, CBS Corporation, Viacom Inc, Westwood One Radio and Imus producer Bernard McGuirk.


Once again, I must insert a caveat that I consider Imus despicable. He's a crude jerk, to put it mildly. I also consider him boring, unlistenable and very possibly brain-damaged.

But I wonder how the hell Vaughn's shyster can prove "damages." Was she a sweet young virgin who never in her life said a harsh word about anyone else? Has she had to go into seclusion since Imus made his reprehensible comments about the whole team? He did not, after all, single her out for special mention.

Actually, I doubt he'll have to "prove" anything. Either he manages to pick a jury predisposed to feel sorry for the poor waif or Imus's lawyers decide a settlement beats a trial.

I have never met anyone who didn't have something offensive said about them at one time or another. Sometimes directly to their face, sometimes on the radio, or on TV or in print.

Ah, America. We have led the world in embracing the pathetic concept of "hate crimes" (as if the same crime committed against someone who doesn't belong to a "protected class" isn't equally bad), "hate speech" and Green Therapy for all that ails you.

If anyone wants to buy my "good name" -- which, we are told, is more valuable than worldly goods -- a couple million ought to do it.

I hope this suit is thrown out before it goes to trial. Kia Vaughn better hope so, too. If she persists, she will no longer be someone who stood tall when insulted; she'll be just another whiny greedhead trying to cash in after her 15 minutes of fame are up.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

OH man there are so many ppl that are going to sue me for calling them names....hmmm I think I called my neighbor a "froghead" when I was 6 - I better call my lawyer

MrScribbler said...

Kelly -- at least that won't cost you as much as "doodoohead!"

Anonymous said...

Just a money grab. You know the drill....file suit on everybody you can catch, then negotiate a settlement. Who do you think really initiated this little scam? Kia, or her blood sucking lawyer?

John0 Juanderlust said...

The lawsuit business is unbelievable. Just but filing this thing she has lost her good name.
As for Imus, Al Sharpton, etc, they all have the right to be offensive and biased. It has come to the point that only certain people have the right to open their mouths or be idiots. Only certain people deserve protection from violent crime.
The word "ho" may not have applied before, but it appears as if it soes now to her and her shameless lawyer.