Quote:
On 2002-09-10 15:36, JayUtah wrote:
I have no legal training, but it appears to me that Sibrel's behavior is tortious, Aldrin's alleged battery notwithstanding. Do repeated accusations of lying qualify as harassment? In any case, requesting on-camera interviews under false pretenses is manipulative at best and unlawful at worst.
|
I'm not a lawyer, but I have had some legal training...
There is a "prominent public figure" standard that makes it very hard for famous persons to sue for libel. For instance, it's very difficult for Madonna to sue me if I refer to her as a "slut." In the same vein, it would be almost impossible for Buzz Aldrin to sue this Sibrel slut just for callin him a liar.
This is actually a good thing, as it protects people who write reviews of movies. Suppose I said, "Pluto Nash is a really crappy movie," and thus was open to a lawsuit for defamation. Unpleasant. So, the common law has, wisely, made reviews of prominently public affairs protected against ordinary lawsuits.
Popping a guy with a good right cross, alas, doesn't fall into this class of exemption.
Still, at an emotional level, I'm with Buzz!
"Pow! To the Moon!"
Silas