'American Gangster' Slapped by Feds' Lawsuit (Former DEA Agents Say They Were Defamed By The Film)

ABC News ^ | Jan. 16, 2008

[piytar]

Are you a lawyer? Did a little digging, and the whole issue of defamation of a group is very complex and the laws and court rulings seem to vary widely from state to state...

[microgood]

Are you a lawyer? Did a little digging, and the whole issue of defamation of a group is very complex and the laws and court rulings seem to vary widely from state to state...

No, not at all. I just have been around long enough to know that suing "art" for libel has been very unsuccessful in this country over the years. In England, it is easier to be successful in lawsuits, but here courts have not been very friendly due to the court's interpretations of our 1st Amendment protections.

[Borges]

Dramas based on historical events have never been totally accurate. Not at any time in history. Never.

[Captain Pike]

I thought it was real based on that but the entire story was fiction, including the end statements which was trying to make it look somewhat factual.

You got it right with "end statements which was trying to make [the movie] look somewhat factual". When the producers put up a quote at the end of a movie, then they're trying to say "this is the truth". If they "knew" the facts in this case were wrong, and real people were involved, then they have even less defense for their actions. That's not merely slandering someone out of ignorance, but slandering someone with a deliberate fiction.