The power of the press, Covington Catholic student's lawsuit

[rayg]

Federal judge throws out Covington Catholic student's $250M lawsuit against the Washington Post claiming it engaged in 'targeting and bullying' and modern 'McCarthyism' after his clash with Native American activist went viral.

I guess the press can say and do anything it wants with out restriction because the story never mentioned the kid by name... Of course it's just the lower courts opinion with a possibility that may get over turned as it moves onto the higher court. I'm sure his attorney's expected this.
I believe there are several other news media also being sued will have to see what happens with those lawsuites. ,

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...encounter.html

[barretcreek]

"Absence of Malice". Starred Paul Newman and Sally Field, with a great supporting cast. Took on this topic.

WaPo thinks they're off the hook because they never mentioned a minor who not a public figure by name. I think they'll find out they are wrong.

[Mark in Ottawa]

Without judging the rights or wrong of the incident and the lawsuit, I would suggest that any lawsuit that seeks $250 million for anything other than recovery of money for physical damage of that magnitude, should automatically be thrown out for bringing the justice system into disrepute. It looks like nothing more than an attempt by a lawyer to seek a negotiated, multi-million dollar settlement, a large portion of which will go to the lawyer. I think that the world would be much better off if every jurisdiction banned the practise of lawyers operating on a contingency fee basis. It just encourages silly and expensive litigation.

[Vern Humphrey]

Without judging the rights or wrong of the incident and the lawsuit, I would suggest that any lawsuit that seeks $250 million for anything other than recovery of money for physical damage of that magnitude, should automatically be thrown out for bringing the justice system into disrepute. It looks like nothing more than an attempt by a lawyer to seek a negotiated, multi-million dollar settlement, a large portion of which will go to the lawyer. I think that the world would be much better off if every jurisdiction banned the practise of lawyers operating on a contingency fee basis. It just encourages silly and expensive litigation.

They want punitive damages -- to which they are entitled. Sums that do not punish cannot be called punitive. A thousand dollars to a working man would be punishment. but to the Washington post, that would be mere pocket change.

Let me point out the standard the judge cites, malice, applies ONLY to "public figures." For ordinary people, damage is sufficient, malice or no malice.

[dryheat]

Without judging the rights or wrong of the incident and the lawsuit, I would suggest that any lawsuit that seeks $250 million for anything other than recovery of money for physical damage of that magnitude, should automatically be thrown out for bringing the justice system into disrepute. It looks like nothing more than an attempt by a lawyer to seek a negotiated, multi-million dollar settlement, a large portion of which will go to the lawyer. I think that the world would be much better off if every jurisdiction banned the practise of lawyers operating on a contingency fee basis. It just encourages silly and expensive litigation.

Whew! Someone actually said it.