interesting. wonder where his background leads you?
Lawsuit Says TV Station Falsely Labeled City Man
Ed Godfrey
08/25/1995
NOTE:
Al-Hussaini Hussain said he lost his job, was beaten, spat upon and feared for his life.
All because, he says, KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City fingered him as the elusive "John Doe 2" who was responsible for the April 19 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Hussain, a refugee from Iraq who lives in Oklahoma City, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Oklahoma County District Court against KFOR-TV Channel 4; its owner, Palmer Communications; reporters Jayna Davis and Brad Edwards; and News Director Melissa Klinzing.
The Oklahoma City resident claims in the lawsuit Channel 4 falsely accused him of being "John Doe 2" in a June 7 broadcast.
At a news conference Thursday, Hussain's lawyers, Tulsa attorneys Gary Richardson and William Donovan, accused the television station of "tabloid journalism at its best. "
"Here is a man that came to America seeking freedom and was put in imprisonment by a local TV station," Richardson said.
The lawsuit accuses KFOR of falsely reporting that Hussain was with bombing suspect Timothy McVeigh days before the bombing, that Hussain drove a brown pickup speeding away from the scene of the bombing and that the 30-year-old ex-restaurant worker was "the notorious bombing suspect John Doe No. 2."
Klinzing said Thursday the station was "confident in our reports and confident KFOR will prevail in the case. "
Klinzing would not comment further, saying the station's staff and lawyers needed more time to study the lawsuit.
Richardson said Hussain was subjected to "unbelievable harassment by Channel 4." The attorneys claim the lawsuit will prove KFOR officials acted with negligence and malice in airing their report.
The FBI never considered Hussain a suspect, Richardson said.
Even though the KFOR reporter did not name Hussain and had his face digitally blurred, Richardson said the newscast identified Hussain through "innuendo. "
Dr. Samir Khalil, a friend of Hussain's who was translating for him at Thursday's news conference, said Hussain was working for him doing home repair at the time of the bombing.
Since the KFOR report, Hussain can't find a job and people still "look at him with anger," Khalil said.
Khalil said Hussain fled Iraq last year to escape Saddam Hussein's army.
The lawsuit does not specify any financial damages being sought.