Woman files suit over Super Bowl halftime show

freedomforum.org ^ | 2.7.04 | By The Associated Press

[freepatriot32]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Terri Carlin wants to make Janet Jackson's bare breast into a federal case.

Carlin filed a proposed class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court this week against Jackson, singer Justin Timberlake, broadcasters MTV and CBS and their parent company, Viacom.

Carlin alleges in the Feb. 4 suit that she and others who watched the halftime show during the Super Bowl were injured by the performers' lewd actions when Timberlake ripped off part of Jackson's costume, exposing her breast.

In the lawsuit, Carlin charges that the exposure and "sexually explicit conduct" by other performers during the show injured viewers.

"As a direct and proximate result of the broadcast of the acts, (Carlin) and millions of others saw the acts and were caused to suffer outrage, anger, embarrassment and serious injury," the lawsuit says.

Carlin, who works in a bank, doesn't specify the type of injury allegedly suffered.

"All of the defendants knew that the Super Bowl, the pre-eminent sports event in the United States, would be watched by millions of families and children," says the lawsuit filed by Knoxville attorney Wayne A. Ritchie II. "Nevertheless, (they) included in the halftime show sexually explicit acts solely designed to garner publicity and, ultimately, to increase profits for themselves."

The lawsuit charges that the broadcast companies and the two singers violated an "implied" contract with viewers not to subject them to lewd actions.

"Families have an expectation that they can trust companies and individuals such as the defendants not to expose families to sexually explicit conduct during broadcasts of prime time events such as the Super Bowl," the lawsuit says.

Jackson has apologized for the incident, saying a red lace garment was supposed to remain over her breast when an outer garment was ripped away. She denied that the NFL, CBS, or MTV, which produced the halftime show for CBS, knew of her plans, and those entities all have condemned the performance.

The lawsuit says the broadcasters should have had a "sufficient broadcast delay" to censor the acts, even if they didn't know what Jackson and Timberlake planned to do on stage.

Carlin's lawsuit seeks billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

[freepatriot32]

Terri Carlin wants to make Janet Jackson's bare breast into a federal case

yeah cause lord nos we dont have enough people making a federal case out of things in america in the new century

[EGPWS]

Carlin alleges in the Feb. 4 suit that she and others who watched the halftime show during the Super Bowl were injured by the performers' lewd actions when Timberlake ripped off part of Jackson's costume, exposing her breast.

By what? Glass chards from a broken picture tube?

Perhaps it's time for an LCD!

[Always Right]

Janet the Bare-Breast Jackson (Song)
(Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer melody)


You know Micheal and Marlon and Jacko and Tito
Randy and Jermaine and Rebbie and LaToya
But do you recall the most famous Jackson of all
Janet the Bare-Breast Jackson, had a very shiney nipple
And finally when she beared it, you would even see it’s pierced
But Janet’s father Joseph, use to scream and steal her Toys
He never let poor Janet, sing with all the Jackson Boys.

Then one foggy super bowl day, MTV came to say
Janet with your breasts so big, won’t you play our half-time gig
Then how the tabloids loved her, and they shouted out with glee
Janet the Bare-breast Jackson, your career is history

[Bud Krieger]

Carlin, who works in a bank, doesn't specify the type of injury allegedly suffered.

---

That could be a big problem with her case. I sure hope she has the receipts from her shrink.

[Unam Sanctam]

Carlin, who works in a bank, doesn't specify the type of injury allegedly suffered.

I would think one would have to specify the specific harm in the complaint. Hopefully she has a compelling case, e.g., she was watching with her underage children or something like that. Otherwise, she is not the best test case for this.

[xJones]

#3: LOL!

[spokeshave]

Well perhaps the severe and gross injury was that only one breast was exposed....

[Always Right]

#3: LOL!

Thanks. The idea came to me last night, and I posted it here but an admin woved it to the misc category, so most people won't see it. It may need some minor messaging.

[EggsAckley]

[KarlInOhio]

Oww! Oww! I strained my thumb from hitting the Instant Replay button on my ReplayTV remote. How much is that worth in punitive damages?

[freepatriot32]

well according to her Billions:-)i think she is somehow related to john asscroft who is scared s**tless of concrete breasts on statues

[NCPAC]

Yes, yes, just what this not-litigious-enough-society needs: Another lawsuit. You had to figure it was only a matter of time before the lunatics made their presence known in the courtroom.

[pabianice]

Where can I file suit for having missed it?

[Grim]

Personally, I think CBS deserves to be sued for polluting the airwaves with it's crappy, tasteless halftime show AND for running Dan Rather's schtick for the last 20 years, too.

[Prodigal Son]

I was traumatized...

[gcruse]

Whoops!  Litigation, folks.  Litigation.
Next stop, calling everyone who disagrees Nazis.
All Aboard the American Cliche Machine.

Your sponsor tonight is the Good Intentions Paving Company.

[Hildy]

Hey...CBS made up for it...they disinvited Janet Jackson, but has since reinvited her. She will get up there and I guarantee you this...SHE WILL RECEIVE A STANDING OVATION from the audience at the Grammy's. We all know what Hollywood thinks of us out here...