Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: the American legal system

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Topic: the American legal system

Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 01-04-2003 10:17 AM

Only in America would some guy who changed his name to "Jack Ass" sue Viacom for defaming his name. Check out the full story in the latest version of the New Yorker magazine; also available here: http://newyorker.com/talk/content/?030106ta_talk_rosenwald

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Steve Kraus
Film God

Posts: 4094
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 01-04-2003 09:00 PM

Easy one for the judge: The plaintiff knew he was changing his name to a explicitly derisive term, one which is in common use in colloquial American English. He has not and indeed can not present evidence that the defendants were in anyway referring to him personally through their use of this everyday term. Case dismissed and plaintiff to reimburse all costs of defendants.

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Will Morrow
Film Handler

Posts: 91
From: Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2001

posted 01-04-2003 10:48 PM

It won't be long, and you will see him as a "Special Guest" in one of Johnny Knoxville's skits/stunts. Maybe that one guy will put Jack Ass up his well, you know, and get an XRay. Now that would be cool.

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John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 01-05-2003 11:12 AM

I notice that often, an initial lawsuit gets a lot of publicity because the demands are so high ($100 million for an exploding GM gas tank, etc.) This is the kind of stuff the news likes to report on. But months/ years later, after a few rounds in court, the actual awarded damages are far less. This is not so interesting, so it's never given the same publicity, and people are left with the impression these lawsuits are aways successful.

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Bobby Henderson
"Ask me about Trajan."

Posts: 10973
From: Lawton, OK, USA
Registered: Apr 2001

posted 01-05-2003 01:21 PM

I think the fellow named "Jack Ass" needs to be forced into a game of NutBall with Johnny Knoxville and his gang.

Nut ball is a Jackass game where participants strip down to their underwear, sit across from each other and arc raquetballs through the air at their opponent with the goal of hitting the opponent in the nuts. Participants usually have a bullseye put on the underwear right where the frank and beans are located.

"Jack Ass" should be forced to sit there and play NutBall with a bowling ball.

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Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 01-05-2003 10:41 PM

That's gotta be the most senseless game I ever heard of. Those who choose to play that game obviously have too much time on their hands and should go down to K-Mart and buy a life for $1.98. [Big Grin]

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