Sharpton files $1 billion libel suit against HBO

Miami Herald ^ | 7/24/02 | GUNNA DICKSON

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton on Wednesday filed a $1 billion libel lawsuit against the HBO cable TV network for airing a FBI videotape of him being approached about a cocaine deal.

The lawsuit alleged "defamation, libel and slander," and demanded $500 million in compensatory and $500 million in punitive damages from HBO Inc., HBO Real Sports, AOL-Time Warner, Inc., reporter Bernard Goldberg and ex-mob captain Michael Franzese.

HBO is a unit of Time Warner Entertainment, which is jointly owned by AOL Time Warner and AT&T.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Isn't Bush a cocaine addict, why hasn't he filed?

[dirtboy]

Amazing that Sharpton considers the airing of a law enforcement videotape to be slander. Plus, he still probably has some of that Tawana suit to pay off...

[Alberta's Child]

I thought the term "libel" implied that something in HBO's prodcution would have to be false. This is probably the first time in history that someone has filed a libel suit over a videotape of himself.

[dirtboy]

This is probably the first time in history that someone has filed a libel suit over a videotape of himself.

Well, Sharpton does always try to keep himself on the leading edge of absurdity...

[FreeTally]

I thought the term "libel" implied that something in HBO's prodcution would have to be false.

Correct. This is just him trying to save face. The Dems appear to be tired of 'ol Al. This is a "smear", by his "own" people, but really, how does one "smear" an idiot such as Sharpton. he has no creedence anyway.

[anniegetyourgun]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

What do you think Hillary has to do with this? It happend some 20 years ago, was essentially buried at this point, and with the early elections unfolding it suddenly reappears?

[tcostell]

"I will not give in to a smear campaign, that I did not start myself." Sharpton said outside Manhattan Supreme Court after filing the lawsuit.

Makes you proud to be an American huh?

[dirtboy]

What do you think Hillary has to do with this? It happend some 20 years ago, was essentially buried at this point, and with the early elections unfolding it suddenly reappears?

I think Clintonian involvement is a distinct possibility, but they tend to cover their tracks pretty well, so I doubt we'll ever know one way or the other...

[KS Flyover]

I's been defamated, libeled and slandered!

[ofMagog]

How is it possible to libel Al $harpton?
That would be like like trying to libel Jimmy $waggart, Je$$ie Jack$on, Pat Robert$on, or Jerry Fartwell.

[finnman69]

HBO is going to give him his own show

I TAWANA BE A BILLIONAIRE

[Victor]

".....What do you think Hillary has to do with this?...."

Methinks not only Hillary but McCauliffe and the DNC in general. They do NOT want the Dem vote split off by whack jobs like Fat Al. They (the Dems) have a lot to lose and are taking no chances.

[isthisnickcool]

Sharpton: By not doing so, what they did was to sanitize a mobster and criminalize a civil rights activist."

So, the other guy was the "civil rights activist"?

[steve50]

Maybe some good will come out of the suit. I'd like to know how 20 year old FBI/DEA evidence came up for sale on the open market. This stuff is not supposed to be public.

[Alberta's Child]

In a related story, New York Mets outfielder Jeremy Burnitz launched a $1 billion libel suit against Major League Baseball, various sports websites, and and every newspaper in the country, for publishing his anemic batting statistics on a regular basis.

"Anyone who published information indicating that I am only hitting .214," he said, "is basically telling the world that I suck. There is another story out there that isn't being told."

/sarcasm off/

[S.O.S121.500]

"YUCK,YUCK,YUCK.....SNERK......THWPT - Tawana".

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The Rats have been surviving off lies for so long why not continue to sell lies, who needs facts?

[dirtboy]

LOL - that's a good one.

[Centurion2000]

NEW YORK - The Rev. Al Sharpton on Wednesday filed a $1 billion libel lawsuit against the HBO cable TV network for airing a FBI videotape of him being approached about a cocaine deal.

The really funy and ironic part ..... if it looks like HBO will lose (not likely at all), it would be cheaper to hire an assassin and waste him than to pay him.