Judge approves "Predator" lawsuit against NBC

Yahoo ^ | 02/26/08 | Reuters (via Yahoo)

[MotleyGirl70]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A $100 million lawsuit claiming that NBC prompted the suicide of a former Texas prosecutor who was caught up in its popular sting series "To Catch a Predator" is moving ahead after a ruling by a U.S. federal judge on Tuesday.

Louis Conradt, a 56-year-old assistant district attorney, shot himself in November 2006 after he was confronted at his Terrell, Texas, home by police officers. They were accompanied by an NBC news crew that was there to film his arrest.

"To Catch a Predator," a segment of NBC's "Dateline" newsmagazine program, lures men to a house with hidden cameras in the belief that they are about to have sexual relations with underage girls or boys. There, they are confronted by the program's host and promptly arrested. In Conradt's case, he was expecting to meet up with a 13-year-old boy.

Critics of the show say it is a form of entrapment, and they have questioned NBC's partnership on the series with an online vigilante group called Perverted-Justice.

Conradt's sister, Patricia Conradt, sued the network, saying "Dateline" was responsible for his death and the harm to his reputation. She grew up in the house where Conradt committed suicide.

U.S. District Judge Denny Chin, while dismissing some causes of action, said certain key claims in the complaint can proceed to trial, according to a 40-page ruling.

Chin let the case go forward on claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of civil rights, saying if the allegations were proven, "a reasonable jury could find that NBC crossed the line from responsible journalism to irresponsible and reckless intrusion into law enforcement."

"Rather than merely report on law enforcement's efforts to combat crime, NBC purportedly instigated and then placed itself squarely in the middle of a police operation," the opinion read, "pushing the police to engage in tactics that were unnecessary and unwise, solely to generate more dramatic footage for a television show."

A spokeswoman for NBC, which is majority-owned by General Electric Co, said the company will continue to defend itself vigorously.

"We think the evidence will ultimately show that 'Dateline' acted responsibly and lawfully," spokeswoman Jenny Tartikoff said in an e-mailed statement. "The judge's ruling was based solely on the plaintiff's version of the facts. For purposes of this motion only, the judge was required, under the law, to accept the plaintiff's allegations as true."

NBC had argued that it owed Conradt no duty to protect him from suicide, according to the ruling.

[RDTF]

((just shakin my head))

[trumandogz]

We should thank Louis Conradt for saving the tax payers of Texas the cost of his imprisonment for the next 20 years.

[M203M4]

I'm generally not an advocate of suicide, but will make an exception for those who prey on children. Cheaper than this:

"Why don't you have a seat over there?"

[weegee]

What political party did he belong to?

[Vigilanteman]

If the media drives a child molestor to suicide, then I say they should be commended for it. They've saved society a lot of money and future business a lot of grief.

I'm much, much more concerned about them whipping up sympathy for Gitmo detainees, promoting Obamagasms and disclosing national security matters.

[TCats]

I watched this series a couple of times and, after taking several showers, decided not to watch it again. I'm all for capturing and severely punishing perverts but what these people (NBC) were doing was so close to entrapment it is hard to see the difference IMO.

Law enforcement and protection of the innocent, yes. Entertainment, no.

[theDentist]

Suit or not, any time some man shows up to have sex with a 13-y.o. boy or girl, his face should be on primetime.

[SmithL]

Chin, Denny

Born 1954 in Kowloon, Hong Kong

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Nominated by William J. Clinton on March 24, 1994, to a new seat created by 104 Stat. 5089; Confirmed by the Senate on August 9, 1994, and received commission on August 10, 1994.

Education:
Princeton University, B.A., 1975

Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 1978

Professional Career:
Law clerk, Hon. Henry Werker, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1978-1980
Private practice, New York City, 1980-1982
Assistant U.S. attorney, Southern District of New York, 1982-1986
Private practice, New York City, 1986-1994
Adjunct professor (part-time), Fordham University School of Law, 1986-1994

Race or Ethnicity: Asian American

Gender: Male

[Vigilanteman]

They've saved society a lot of money and future victimsbusiness a lot of grief.

Sorry for the typo.

[nyconse]

As a father, what ever happens to these pieces of human debris, is of no concern of mine. They are nothing but a bunch of child molesters.

[donna]

Conradt's sister, Patricia Conradt, sued the network, saying "Dateline" was responsible for his death and the harm to his reputation. She grew up in the house where Conradt committed suicide.

She wants pedophile money.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Its a sickening show with a revolting premise.
Why these saps continue to walk into traps is a mystery to me.

[Sir_Ed]

I think this lawsuit is valid, because, as I understand it, Dateline was in charge of the whole thing, directing the cops’ actions and orchestrating the drive to the ADA’s house and subsequent attempts to interview him and watch him being arrested on camera.

COPS are the final decision-makers, they should allow NO input into police operations, and that did not happen in this instance.

I know you all think this guy deserved to go down, but imagine the shoe is on the other, Freeper, foot:

One of us is about to be arrested under a new John McCain/Hitlery/Obama Hate Crimes act because we insulted a homosexual or Muslim.

60 Minutes wants to watch the Freeper’s perp walk, so Morley Safer and Leslie Stahl take over the command bunker, telling the cops where to go, whether to go to the Hate Crimes guy’s house or office (whatever location works best for 60 Minutes’ dramatic camera angle) and when/how to best arrest the Freeper so it looks good on camera.

I know it may sound far-fetched, but it’s basically what the lawsuit alleges, and if it IS true that Dateline was in charge of the whole thing, they need to be shut down from police operations after that.

We need sworn Peace Officers running arrests, NOT television producers looking for the best story and best perp walk.

Ed

[MindBender26]

This is a class case of Sam Donaldson’s old line. “People say they don;t like the questions we ask. In reality, what they don;t like are their own answers to the questions we ask.

All NBC did was tell the public about the illegal acts a sworn public servant was committing.

Good for them.

[SmithL]

I thought everyone knew that Texas District Attorneys are non-partisan. Just ask Ronnie Earle.

[AppyPappy]

Entrapment?? They drive to meet the victim.

This guy was different but clearly he knew he was busted.

[trumandogz]

He was an Assistant Prosecutor in Rockwall County.

Here is a link to the county’s election results in 2004.

http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe

George W. Bush/ Dick Cheney(I) 61.08%
John F. Kerry/ John Edwards 38.22%

Chances are that he was a Republican as it would be tough for a Liberal Democrat to be hired as a Prosecutor is a strong GOP county.

[sitetest]

“A $100 million lawsuit claiming that NBC...”

Too small. Should be an order of magnitude or two greater. Enough to destroy NBC.

[Larebil]

RUBBISH!!!!!

It protects the innocent from SCUM like this who prey on young impressionable children.
He’s a prosecutor, he should know better.

I watch the show to laugh at the scum. I tolerate the olbermain ads to see the fear in the faces of these POS.

Craig Hansen should get a medal for what he is doing.