Sweet: USA Next / Jarvis sued for $25 Million

[RobertSeattle]

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/archive.html?blog=/politics/war_room/2005/03/09/usanext/index.html

Lawsuit over USANext's AARP ad

Remember USANext's smear job on AARP -- the internet-only ad that tried to marginalize the AARP out of the Social Security debate by suggesting that the group has something against American soldiers but loves gay marriage? Rick Raymen and Steve Hansen haven't forgotten. They're the Oregon couple shown kissing in the USANext ad. Today in Washington, they filed a $25 million lawsuit against USANext.

"Our privacy and personal integrity were violated when our wedding photo was stolen and used to portray us as treasonous, unpatriotic, and a threat to American troops," Raymen said in a statement released to the press today. "We have been harassed and humiliated by this hateful ad campaign and by the bigotry and anger it has generated against us nationwide."

In their lawsuit, Raymen and Hansen allege that USANext's use of their photograph -- which was copied without permission from the Portland Tribune -- amounted to an invasion of privacy, a violation of their right to control their own images, libel and the intention infliction of emotional distress. The suit names as defendants both USANext and the political consulting firm Mark Montini International, which apparently created the ad.

(More at Link)

[ET Awful]

1. What I'd like to see is for the Portland Tribune to join in as a

co-Plaintiff for copyright infringement.

[DulceDecorum]

5. The Portland Tribune

kinda refused the permission for the photo to be used.

Not having given their permission for use of the photo, Raymen and Hansen contacted the copyright holder, the Portland Tribune, and the paper quickly confirmed that it had not sold the photo to anyone and that the image had likely been stolen from its Web site.


Then Mark Monti tried to pay them off on at least two occasions and they sent the money back and said "NO!"

[ET Awful]

8. That's my point.

The Tribune owned the copyright. The refused permission for the use of the material. The material was used. They are thus legitimate co-complainants against the people who used the image illegally.

If the Tribune joins the suit, there are deeper pockets with which to finance the suit itself.

[DulceDecorum]

9. Ohh, I thought it was the other way round.

Yeah, if the Tribune sues as well,
this "frivolous lawsuit" could really get to be entertaining.

[Inland]

2. Sweet.

[TahitiNut]

3. USA Next / Jarvis will just declare bankrupcy and start up again.

If, in the unlikely event they lose both in the Reich's court and on appeal.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Or...

Since they SAY they have 1,500,000 members (Bwa ha ha) they only need to ask for about 15 dollars per member to cover the costs...

[Ian David]

7. Can't all gay people & AARP members join a class-action defamation suit?

Now, THAT would be something to see!

[walldude]

10. At least the AARP can get in the suit

for slander or libel... Was wondering when this was going to happen.. Even if the suit goes nowhere the publicity could kill USA next...

[TahitiNut]

15. I see little that's libelous about "Make Love Not War"

:shrug: I actually think that's pretty good advice - advice I'd subscribe to if it weren't for my hobbies. :silly:

[caligirl]

6. thanks for the update on this, happy to see someone will try to

put a dent in that group.

[ohio_liberal]

11. Kick

Thanks for posting this!

[KoKo]

12. This is good news. Sad for this couple they have to go through it, but

what they are doing is what needs to be done. Takes courage to go against the Republican Crime Syndicate and courage not to take the bribe money and run.

Good for them. We need more lawsuits against these people.

[Jesus Saves]

13. I hope they take every penny from USANext

That group is a crime against nature.

[Kenneth ken]

14. very good news

thanks for posting this.