Appellate court dismisses Dan Rather's lawsuit against CBS

Los Angeles Times ^ | September 29, 2009 | Matea Gold

[abb]

More than two years after Dan Rather filed a $70-million lawsuit against CBS for breach of contract and fraud, a New York Supreme Court appellate division has tossed out his claim.

The ruling, handed down today, dismissed Rather's claims that CBS News broke his contract and committed fraud by sidelining him in the wake of a controversial story he reported about President George W. Bush's Vietnam-era service in the Texas Air Guard. The anchor alleged that CBS sought to curtail reporting on the story because of pressure from its then-parent company, Viacom.

But in its ruling, the appeals panel found that CBS did not violate the terms of Rather's contract because it continued to pay him, citing the contract's "pay or play" provision. The finding was a major blow to the longtime newsman, who had cast the suit as part of a broader effort to rein in the influence of corporations on news organizations.

[Updated at 11:11 a.m.: CBS was jubilant about the ruling. “We’re studying the decision right now, but it appears to be a total victory – and vindication for CBS’ position,” said CBS News spokesman Jeff Ballabon. Neither Rather nor his attorneys immediately returned a call for comment.

In its ruling, issued more than five months after the parties argued the case before the appellate division, the court reversed Judge Ira Gammerman’s decisions on the case.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

It’s like the end of the Iran-Iraq or Soviet-Nazi war. You hate to see it end and wish they both could lose.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

[abb]

I wanted to see it get at least to discovery - so that we could find out what they knew and when they knew it.

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Then you're gonna luv ACORN vs. O'Keefe et al.

[Cyber Liberty]

The finding was a major blow to the longtime newsman, who had cast the suit as part of a broader effort to rein in the influence of corporations on news organizations.

I see the LA Times doesn't put bias in their stories anymore. /s

[elizabethgrace]

[abb]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009313.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
Judge dismisses Dan Rather lawsuit

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/court-dismisses-rather-suit-against-cbs/
Court Dismisses Rather Suit Against CBS

[TChris]

I hear the court faxed the opinion in from Kinko’s.

SuhWEET! LOL!

[Arizona Carolyn]

cue the violin music

[CaptRon]

The finding was a major blow to the longtime newsman, who had cast the suit as part of a broader effort to rein in the influence of corporations on news organizations.

Yeah. Right.

[skully]

Because its not nice to gloat...I’m going to exercise “fake but accurate” gloating...

HA HA (but not really)

[SamiGirl]

Yea, go ahead Dan. Appeal all you want. Spend your money.

[hecht]

why did CBS keep him for so long. When he replace Cronkite, his ratings were #1, but he quickly slipped into third and stayed there for the rest of his tenure. In MLB he’d have been sent to the minors or traded

[VA_Gentleman]

Dan Blather ended his “journalism” career with the word courage.

I have another word for you Dan: dismissed!

[tiredoflaundry]

sucks to be Dan!

[Zakeet]

[Zakeet]

[Rebelbase]

Suck it up Dan. The perky cheerleader who replaced you is still on the job, filling your man-sized shoes. How does that make you feel knowing she was a first grader when you covered Kennedy’s assassination and was in high school when you covered Watergate?

[Constitution Day]

Brutal! LOL!