Can Michael Shiavo sue for slander, libel, defamation?

MattBaggins

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 10:50 PM
Original message

Can Michael Shiavo sue for slander, libel, defamation?

Can a person be considered a public figure if they never made an effort to be so, if they were thrust into it? Does he have a chance to take people like Delay to court for the lies they are spreading about him?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

joeybee12

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 10:52 PM
Response to Original message

1. Congress has essentially exempted themselves through special laws

they've passed to protect themselves. They can say anything they want, and you can't do a damn thing about it.

Cowards.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

Dookus

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 10:55 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. I hope he does sue

Dobson, Randall Terry and that crew who have spread the most malicious lies about him.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

joeybee12

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:05 PM
Response to Reply #3

7. Yeaj, like the gay couple who's suing USANext for stealing their photo

and using it as an anti-AARP, hompohobic ad. That's the only thing these scum understand.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

adwon

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-21-05 01:41 AM
Response to Reply #1

14. ?

Congressional debate is necessarily privileged because it's one of the underpinnings of the republic. Whether Congress has specifically exempted itself from defamation claims, I don't claim to know. I would claim that such a law would be unnecessary because the common law recognized the need for certain forums to be immune from that kind of concern. Congressional debate is no different from testimony in court, administrative hearings, and even Congressional hearings.

I don't mean to rant, but this just struck me as odd. There are rules for debate which limit just what and how can be said.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

ohio_liberal

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 10:52 PM
Response to Original message

2. I've been wondering about this too

I was thinking more about the Schindlers though, not much about the Repugs

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

MattBaggins

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #2

6. Terry Schiavos brother on Hannity Radio

Said Michael wants to kill her to keep her from regaining consciousness and exposing that he put her in this state. Said there was evidence indicating he did this too her. All these courts and medical records showing heart attack from potassium deficiency, but no he accuses Michael of inflicting this on her.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

hollywood926

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:03 PM
Response to Original message

4. Nope, you can't sue if it is true...n/t

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

MattBaggins

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:06 PM
Response to Reply #4

8. Umm what true statements?

they have been lying left and right.. that is the whole point.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

mondo joe

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #4

9. Please specify the true statements.

You haven't managed it once so far.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

hollywood926

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:38 PM
Response to Reply #9

11. I haven't read anything false...

what are you accusing them of lying about? This is the first I've heard about him actually harming her...I don't know if I believe that, but certainly the following statements are true:

1. He requested she be killed two weeks after her collapse.

2. He has been unfaithful to her, but refused a divorce.

3. He has spent her money (designated for medical expenses) on his attorney fees.

4. He has refused to allow her any reparative treatments that have been recommended by doctors for the past 10 years, despite a long list of doctors who say it might well help.

You can defend this sick fucker until you turn blue (and I'm sure you will).

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

mondo joe

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:41 PM
Response to Reply #11

12. Repeatedly inaccurate

As usual, your posts are inaccurate at worst and at best shade the truth.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

hollywood926

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:48 PM
Response to Reply #12

13. Oh, OK. If you say it's inaccurate, then it must be inaccurate

But be more specific, please. What is inaccurate about any or all those statements?

What?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

FredScuttle

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Mon Mar-21-05 02:09 AM
Response to Reply #13

15. You threw those ridiculous lies and distortions out there

the burden is on you to provide a shred of evidence to back any of those RW talking points.

Otherwise, I could go around all day spouting bullshit and daring everyone to prove me wrong.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

roguevalley

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:04 PM
Response to Original message

5. they can say anything they want because they are immune

just like our fucking, er, ethics challenged legislators up here. When the session ends, so does their immunity. Whether that does for the Congress, I don't know. I hope Schiavo sues his balls off. No one has the right to castigate a private citizen before the world and get away with it. Someone needs to take out billboards that call DeLay the Anti- Christ.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

spanone

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Mar-20-05 11:15 PM
Response to Original message

10. God I hope so. They have accused this man of everything.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Tue Apr 30th 2024, 09:58 AM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.