ACORN files suit against filmmakers

politico.com ^ | Sept. 23, 2009 | JAKE SHERMAN

[Free ThinkerNY]

ACORN filed suit today in Maryland against conservative filmmakers James O’Keefe, Hannah Giles and conservative Web site Breitbart.com for secretly taping the organization’s employees at its Baltimore office.

In the complaint, ACORN alleges that the filmmakers entered into the organization’s offices in July with a “hidden camera and microphone” and taped employees Tonja Thompson and Shera Williams. Both employees are listed as plaintiffs on the complaint, filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.

ACORN is seeking $500,000 for each employee and $1 million for the organization in damages.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

OK, where do I send my contribution?

[SeattleBruce]

If Sixty Minutes did this...they’d win an emmy. But of course Sixty Minutes would only do something like this against someone presummed to be on the right.
++++++++++++++

Right, and if this had been a conservative target of undercover liberals, you can bet the Maryland AG would have been absolutely mum about the recording laws...

The two faced slime!

And they want us to believe in justice in this country any longer?

This country is sliding dangerously closer to a Constitutional and judicial crisis. If people cannot get proper recourse in the courts, or just treatment (based on party affiliation(!)), where and how can they get recourse?

[Earthdweller]

Oh, now I want my popcorn...caramel coated please.

[mware]

Oh, now I want my popcorn...caramel coated please.

I can't wait to the annual cranberry festival we have in NJ.

I love their kettle corn.

[SeattleBruce]

I hope the blogosphere, twitter, online news turn this into an OJ/Watergate event with minute by minute updates.
+++++++++++++++

Imagine that for a second - and with bammy fightin’ for his buddies survival...nice.

[altair]

I read the complaint filed in court. While ACORN is listed as one of the plaintiffs, the details are strictly limited to Maryland state law regarding wiretapping conversations. There isn't going to be any vast window for discovery.

I'm skeptical with regards to the expectation of privacy in a publicly funded office, but that is for the courts to decide. The plaintiffs are demanding trial by jury. That is bad.

I find it interesting that Fox News is not named as a defendant, nor Google since both were instrumental in spreading the tapes around.

I do not think this is going to be thrown out at first hearing. I am also not a lawyer, just a guy with paralegal training.

[altair]

bump

[2CAVTrooper]

“These people are dumber, as they say, as a bag of rocks.”

That’s insulting to perfectly intelligent bags of rocks.

[staytrue]

If someone had done this with Madoff they’d be up for a medal.

Not sure about that. Someone who was about ready to cash out would have sued on the grounds that you prematurely crashed the ponzi scheme, denying him the opportunity to get out.

[Vaquero]

Not the smartest move by ACORN.

Nothing they do is smart...but they are a protected species...like that friggin minnow that is going to cost the central valley of california to die.....and food prices to skyrocket....

[staytrue]

The state of Maryland should be utterly ashamed of itself for allowing this type of suit. Simply ridiculous!

Well how about the DC dry cleaner lawsuit. Someone sued for 500,000 because a Korean dry cleaner lost his pants.

Only in Washington DC.

[Beaten Valve]

In California ACORN would be barred from filing suit against anyone if they were not properly registered.

I presume that this is probably pretty standard amongst most of the states..

Good luck, DUmmies!

[altair]

Are they trying to keep other tapes from being released?

Not in this lawsuit. It only pertains to the Maryland wiretapping law that they nailed on Linda Tripp.

Andrew Breitbart has declared war. Do you expect them not to fight back?

As much as we would all like to wake up and find that the last nine months were some kind of horrible nightmare and there was a sane US government, it just isn't going to happen. Not this year, anyway.

[Beaten Valve]

“As direct and proximate result of the actions of defendants, Ms. Thompson and Ms. Williams have lost their employment and have suffered extreme emotional distress with attendant physical symptoms and injury to their reputations.”

Well, it sounds like ACORN is admitting their guilt if they wound up fired them...

[nomad]

Can these people use this as a way of forcing open the ACORN books? Since We the People have been the victims of this swindle called ACORN can WE sue to get OUR money back?Does anyone have a defense fund started for these patriot instestigative journalists and those assisting them in exposing these leftist crooks?

We need to rally around these people or face the possibility that no one will ever want to take on these leftist thugs again.This was FAR more gutsy than some congresscritter telling the truth about Barky`s lying during some speech,so maybe a little funding is in order here,since I could spare a few bucks,an address for donations would be appreciated.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Cutting off all federal taxpayer dollars to ACORN (The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is a good start, but Congress and the Executive Branch must do more.

The American people deserve no less than a full-scale, no-stone-unturned Congressional investigation.

It is now clear that ACORN – which is national in scope and exerts a dangerous influence over politicians and the political process at the local and national levels – is not just a far-left political organization that is not beyond bending or breaking a few laws to advance a radical agenda.

In fact, apparent lawlessness by ACORN representatives seems to be part of the organization’s modus operandi.

ACORN’s true colors were exposed during last year’s presidential campaign when the self-proclaimed community organizing group was implicated in several instances of voter registration fraud and other illicit activity to the benefit of Barack Obama.

Now we learn that ACORN workers in major cities across the country (Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Brooklyn and two cities in California so far) were caught on tape advising undercover documentarians on how to lie to the government so they could establish a brothel for underage, illegal immigrant girls.

The fact that ACORN has been the recipient of your tax dollars – at least 53 million since 1994 – for so many years is egregious. Especially when you consider that the group’s workings and dealings appear to replicate those of an organized criminal enterprise.

That’s why merely cutting off government funding for ACORN – which is a good start – simply does not go far enough.

We need an ACORN Commission. Heads need to roll... long prison sentences should eventually be handed out... and yes, ACORN’s ties to the liberal political establishment must be part of such an investigation.

A message needs to be sent. No group can commit such atrocious acts and get away with it.

ACORN must be stopped cold and it’s up to concerned and patriotic Americans like us to make it happen.

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Use the hyperlink below to send your urgent Blast Fax messages to Barack Obama and each and every Member of the Leadership of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives - or alternately to Barack Obama and each and every member of the House and Senate.

Tell them in no uncertain terms that in addition to cutting off all federal taxpayer funds to ACORN, the American people are demanding more. Tell them that the American people deserve to know the full and unvarnished extent of ACORN’s apparent fraudulent and criminal activities, as well as full extent of their ties to the political establishment.

Demand immediate Congressional investigations into ACORN fraud.

https://fs8.formsite.com/cfiforg/form237824322/secure_index.html

[LA Woman3]

Thanks for the information!

[Eric Blair 2084]

You hit the nail on the head.

Discovery should be pretty funny. I don't blame the dumbasses who were caught on tape. If they can find a lawyer willing to work for free with no possible hope of recovering 40% from any deep pocketed insurance company, corporation or gubmint entity good for them. The only thing the plaintiffs attorney can be in this for is free advertising and the opportunity to have their name in the paper. Free advertising. Not a bad gig.

At the end of the day, I'm reminded of the only good scene from Rocky V, when he punches the Rodney King character in the face when he threatens to sue him after he is flat broke.

Touch me and I'll sue. (Rocky knocks his block off)

Rocky: Sue me for what?

[londonfog]

Screw acorn. What will be now be unleashed is the greatest legal defense fund in history that will empower these young heroes to penetrate the inner being of this vile entity with the unholy wrath on legions on conservative lawyers who will disembowel acrap and its leaders. Fund raising will start Monday on your favorite talk host. Good luck Commies!!! it will be MILLIONS!!!!! (I will give $1,776 quick)

[neverbluffer]

I have not heard about the most damming od all evidence regarding Acorn and the undercover tapes... LOAN FRAUD!!!!

I am in the mortgage business. If I discussed doctoring tax returns in an effort to provide a mortgage, the FBI, HUD, State Regulators, etc would have my butt in jail and paying 1 million dollars in fines for LOAN FRAUD! which is BANK FRAUD!

How come nobody brings this up.