"Truth is an absolute defense."
-Clarence Darrow
Posted on 04/24/2008 10:27:15 AM PDT by indcons
A Chinese primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN in New York over remarks they say insulted the Chinese people and are seeking $1.3 billion in compensation -- $1 per person in China, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.
The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing alleging that Cafferty's remarks earlier this month violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.
Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made "junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food" and added: "They're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."
CNN said Cafferty was expressing an opinion about the Chinese government, but the Foreign Ministry demanded an apology and accused the network of trying to drive a wedge between the Chinese people and leadership.
The lawsuits come amid a wave of criticism in China against Western news outlets in the wake of recent unrest in Tibet and disruptions to the Beijing Olympic torch relay abroad.
In New York, Liang Shubing, the beautician, and Li Lilan, a Beijing-based elementary school instructor, claimed Cafferty's words insulted all Chinese people and "intentionally caused mental harm" to the plaintiffs, the Ta Kung Pao newspaper reported on Thursday.
Six lawyers were handling the case for Liang and Li, it said.
"The $1.3 billion averages out to $1 per Chinese person, so it isn't much," the newspaper quoted a lawyer as saying.
Asked if China supported the action against CNN, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu characterized it as "spontaneous activity by Chinese civilians."
"We will wait and see CNN's response," Jiang told a news conference, referring to the Foreign Ministry's request for a full apology.
"We hope CNN will take this seriously, because what CNN said and did has not only hurt China's feelings, but also CNN's own image."
(Reporting by John Ruwitch and Lindsay Beck in Beijing; Editing by Nick Macfie)
The ChiComs are also unclear on the concept of ‘freedom of speech’. Can’t wait to see the lawsuit get thrown out by a very angry judge.
I hate to agree with that drunk...but he’s right.
Jack Cafferty's comments might actually help CNN's image.
$1 per person in China is like a weeks pay!
so 1.3 billion dollars for every person in china. The lawyers get about 400 million, the primary school teacher gets 100 dollars, and the chinese government takes the rest?
“Truth is an absolute defense.”
-Clarence Darrow
BTTT
I wouldn’t count on it. Freedom of speech is becoming more and more conditional on the degree of “offense” felt by another party. Of course, offense is subjective and some people offend more easily then others. Can’t wait till the Muslims start filing lawsuits to compensate everyone in the Muslim world everytime someone offends them. It will be more lucarative than oil.
Ping
BTW, what’s happened to our chicom trolls here? Haven’t seen the usual culprits in a while now. However, I do see gogoman posting his usual “hit and run” threads.
I’ll see China in court for “US imperialist aggressors and their running-dog lackeys,” which hurt my feelings real bad.
Great idea...the ChiComs hurt my feelings everyday with their idiotic actions and poisonous products.
I welcome this by the ChiComs. It will be hilarious to watch this unfold. What a bunch of goons and thugs.
Oh, and the products they are selling to this country (for the most part) is junk.
Boy - for a bunch of goons and thugs, they sure cry a river when their widdle feewings get hurt.
I still meet older painters who speak glowingly of “the old days” using lead based paint. Apparently, the stuff covered very nicely and was easy to work with.
Of course, their kids all have IQ’s of 80 or so, (and voted for Hillary!). /s.
It’s good to see liberals getting the same shaft that we have been getting for years.
“The ChiComs look down on American’s they think we are stupid thanks to Clintoon.”
The ChiComs have a point, we are stoopid when you consider that we have three candidates for POTUS: a closet Muslim, a second Klintoon (as if the first one was not enough) and some guy who says that he is a conservative, but who is far from being one.
Truth is the ultimate defense against libel.
Well, I can’t sympathize much with CNN, but we didn’t we sue China for the tainted dog food, medicine, lead paint on toys, etc. All that should be worth say $100 per American, at least.
Agents Provocateur? ["Tibetan supporter" who attacked torch bearer may be Chinese agent]
China salaries overseas Chinese for anti-Tibetan protests (rent-a-mob: $350 per head)
‘Beijing orchestrating Tibet riots’
Attack on an American volunteer by anti-Carrefour mob in Zhuzhou, Hunan
"The cab driver was shouting at him to get out. Then they started hitting the car.
The crowd was shouting "kill him! kill the Frenchman.""
The defense rests.
It’s commie vs. commie. A win win! Don’t root for either side just root for them to keep fighting.
That was then; this is now.
Up is down in this crazy world where truth is cast as something to be litigated for.
Can we sue them for the lead in us and our pets?
That’s a break, I thought it was 1.5 bill.
It’s hard to know whose side to be on!
“Well, I can’t sympathize much with CNN, but we didn’t we sue China for the tainted dog food, medicine, lead paint on toys, etc. All that should be worth say $100 per American, at least.”
That’s a great idea. Let’s do that.
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