Posted on 01/24/2008 8:33:12 PM PST by jdm
A book publisher that bought an ad on Don Imus's radio show is suing the shock jock and his former bosses at CBS Radio for more than $4 million, saying Imus insulted the book he was paid to promote.
It was the latest controversy to follow the radio personality, who was fired by CBS Radio in April 2007 for insulting a women's basketball team with a racial slur. He has since returned to the air with another network.
Flatsigned Press said in a New York state court lawsuit filed late on Wednesday that Imus' show had agreed to a script for the 30-second spot in January 2007 to promote a book by former President Gerald Ford on the investigation into the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Imus laughed as he read the script, calling it "cheesy," the lawsuit said. "These bastards have been waiting for him to croak so they can unload" the books, Imus said on the air, according to the lawsuit.
Martin Garbus, Imus' lawyer, said "The lawsuit is without merit and will be dismissed."
Ford served on the Warren Commission that conducted the official inquiry and his book "John F. Kennedy: Assassination Report of the Warren Commission" was published shortly after Ford died in December 2006.
"Imus unilaterally changed the language of the live read, which was completely contrary the agreement agreed upon by the parties," the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit also names Infinity Broadcasting Corp., Sports Radio 66-WFAN and CBS Radio. Infinity, which used to be a division of Viacom Inc., became part of CBS Radio when CBS and Viacom split in 2006.
"Imus in the Morning" was produced and broadcast by the CBS-owned WFAN radio station in New York and syndicated on some 60 stations nationally. The program also was simulcast on cable television's MSNBC, but MSNBC did not air the ad and was not sued.
In December, Imus returned to radio with a nationally syndicated show broadcast out of WABC in New York in a deal with ABC Radio Networks, which is owned by Citadel Broadcasting Corp.
He has been badmouthing Ms. Clinton, then turns around and gives James Carville uninterrupted lenghty monologues that tell us what a warm and wonderful experienced smart brave leader-gal she is and that her loyal husband is 'jes heppin' her out as any good man would.'
Next day, every urban queen's idea of a cowboy gives Carville a repeat, running tape from the day before. Carville, by the way is the scion of a Louisiana family that made its money as the state-appointed keepers of a leper colony.
Figures.
Mr. Garbus is right. These people aren't the first advertiser Imus has dissed in his long career. They had to know this was a possibility. Plus, can they prove damages?
I’ve seen about three minutes of Imus, and that told me all I needed to know. Sounds to me like the advertiser’s got a case. If he critiques the book and disses it, well that’s the way it goes. Accepting cash to advertise it and then dissing it sounds like breach of contract.
The morons at Flatliner Press got what they deserved.
You pays yer money and you takes yer chances....
“Plus, can they prove damages?”
I’m not sure it matters. My advertising contracts explicitly state that I am not to be held responsible if their business declines after advertising with me. I believe that is standard.
Neither side would gain by colonoscopys in open court.
Leni
I’m assuming that you are not known to be an irrascible jerk. I doubt that Imus’ contracts would have that provision!
Not that I was a regular listener, but that did it for me. He gets an pretty expensive donation, and he disses the dealer?
I was listening to a shortwave broadcast of a Jean Shepherd show. He read some ad, possibly a "PSA", and it was so poorly written, Shepherd criticized the thing as he read it.
What was probably a 15 second announcement went on for what seemed like two minutes.
LOL!
Funny!
MAN!!! Jean Shepherd!!!! I’ve been on FR for 10 years and have yet to see his name mentioned. I was a regular listener of his for years. Used to hide my first transistory radio under my pillow to listen (I was supposed to be asleep!).
I also think it would be hard for them to prove that their business declined, since this was apparently a new product (given the description in the article) which had questionable attractiveness to begin with.
I was driving I-5 between LA and SF (200 miles of wasteland). Imus was coming in loud and clear, 'reviewing' Johnny Cash's CD "When the man Comes Around". Now, I love Johnny Cash, and when he does a song he has the potential to make that song his, like few others can. But Imus was ripping him to shred's. while he also had both my wife laughing out loud at his comments.
People have to know that Imus has the ability to make you laugh, even though you do not agree with him.
Smart folks — win or lose, they’ll get a million bucks worth of publicity out of this.
You can get an hour of Jean, Sundays at 3PM, on 7.415mhz, depending on conditions.
Check out http://www.wbcq.com for schedules and changes.
Uhhh, given the cirmstances I'm assuming these are archived broadcasts.
If not, I'm really impressed!
Just saved it to my favorites. As I recall, his nightly show was an hour but his Saturday nigth show from the Hungry Eye (I think) was about 3 hours.
That is correct. The test is whether Imus agreed to promote the book and whether he did or not. We would have to have the contract. The fact that he trashed the book is frustrating for the publisher, but really nothing can be done about it.
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