28 December
Gawker Media Declares Joe Francis Libel-Proof
This is a bit of a stretch, but we admire Gawker Media’s legal department for this response to Joe Francis’ complaint of defamation: “Given his chosen career and his actions to date, it would be hard to say that your client really has any reputation of social probity and standing to damage at this point, now does he?” Well, she may actually have a point! For instance: “In Jackson v. Longcope, a convicted murderer sued the Boston Globe for reporting he had raped and strangled all his victims, and a shoot-out with police occurred during a stolen-car chase.3 Jackson contended he had raped and strangled only some victims, and the car was not stolen. The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk, dismissed the case.” Still: Joe Francis is often-charged, rarely-convicted. Also, we don’t see what his “chosen career” has to do with it. No one could seriously suggest that being a videographer allows one to be subject to defamatory claims. We would encourage him to go on and see how a defamation suit flies. Purely for amusement value.
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