Covington HighSchool Student Files $250Million Defamation Suit Against WashingtonPost

PornAddict · Feb 19, 2019

Teen in Lincoln Memorial protest sues Washington Post for $250 million

Keith Coffman
3 MIN READ
(Reuters) - A high school student from Covington, Kentucky, sued the Washington Post for defamation on Tuesday, claiming the newspaper falsely accused him of racist acts and instigating a confrontation with a Native American activist in a January videotaped incident at the Lincoln Memorial.

FILE PHOTO: Nicholas Sandmann, 16, a student from Covington Catholic High School stands in front of Native American activist Nathan Phillips in Washington, U.S., in this still image from a January 18, 2019 video by Kaya Taitano.

Kaya Taitano/Social Media/via REUTERS/File Photo

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kentucky by Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann, 16, seeks $250 million in damages, the amount that Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com and the world’s richest person, paid for the Post in 2013.

The lawsuit claims that the newspaper “wrongfully targeted and bullied” the teen to advance its bias against President Donald Trump because Sandmann is a white Catholic who wore a Make America Great Again souvenir cap on a school field trip to the March for Life anti-abortion rally in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 18.

The Washington Post’s Vice President for Communications Kristine Coratti Kelly said: “We are reviewing a copy of the lawsuit and we plan to mount a vigorous defense.”

In a photo that went viral from the incident, Sandmann is seen standing face to face with Native American activist Nathan Phillips. Sandmann stares smiling at him while Phillips sings and plays his drum.

The incident sparked outrage on social media.

FIRST OF MANY

In a statement, Sandmann’s Atlanta-based lawyer, Lin Wood, said additional similar lawsuits would be filed in the weeks ahead.

A private investigation firm retained by Covington Diocese in Park Hills, Kentucky, found in a report released last week no evidence the teenagers provoked a confrontation.

The students were met at the Lincoln Memorial by offensive statements from members of the Black Hebrew Israelites, the report said.

Stone ordered back to court over 'crosshairs' post
The investigation also determined that the students did not direct any racist or offensive comments toward Phillips although several performed a “tomahawk chop” to the beat of his drum.

Phillips claimed in a separate video that he heard the students chanting “build that wall,” during the encounter, a reference to Trump’s pledge to build a barrier along the U.S. border with Mexico.

The investigators said they found no evidence of such a chant and that Phillips did not respond to multiple attempts to contact him.

Reporting by Keith Coffman in DenverWriting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; editing by Bill Tarrant, Bill Berkrot and Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

PornAddict · Feb 19, 2019

After an investigation conducted by the Covington Diocese turned up no evidence that 16-year-old high school student Nicholas Sandmann confronted Native American activist Nathan Phillips during a March for Life rally at the Lincoln Memorial last month, seemingly confirming that the mainstream press was incorrect to pillory the white, MAGA-hat wearing teen for a confrontation that never actually happened, lawyers for Sandmann filed the first of what are expected to be many defamation lawsuits demanding compensatory and punitive damages for leading an Internet mob that villified Sandmann and his peers.

According to Reuters, lawyers Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry are seeking $250 million in damages from the Washington Post on behalf of Sandmann, a sum equal to the amount that billionaire Jeff Bezos paid to buy the paper in 2013.

The suit claims that the paper - which helped publicize a now infamous photo that helped trigger an Internet mob that swiftly outed the teen and demanded he be punished - led the hate campaign against Sandmann - and failed to practice proper journalistic due diligence - "because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' souvenir cap on a school field trip to the January 18 March for Life in Washington, D.C. when he was unexpectedly and suddenly confronted by Nathan Phillips ('Phillips'), a known Native American activist, who beat a drum and sang loudly within inches of his face ('the January 18 incident')."

Not only did the diocese's investigation corroborate the students' version of events, but it also found no evidence to support Phillips' claims that Sandmann and his fellow students had been chanting "build the wall" at the time of the confrontation. What really happened - as is now widely known - is that the students, who were marching with the pro-life rally, were verbally accosted by the Black Hebrew Israelites, who hurled homophobic slurs at the students and accosted them.

"In targeting and bullying Nicholas by falsely accusing him of instigating the January 18 incident, the Post conveyed that Nicholas engaged in acts of racism by “swarming” Phillips, “blocking” his exit away from the students, and otherwise engaging in racist misconduct," the suit read. "The Post ignored basic journalist standards because it wanted to advance its well-known and easily documented, biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump (“the President”) by impugning individuals perceived to be supporters of the President."

The Washington Post’s Vice President for Communications Kristine Coratti Kelly told Reuters "We are reviewing a copy of the lawsuit and we plan to mount a vigorous defense."

Sandmann's lawyers also accused WaPo of resorting to modern-day McCarthyism to "claim leadership of a mainstream & social media mob" of bullies who sought to attack and defame Sandmann. The suit also accused WaPo of publishing "no less than six false and defamatory articles".

"In a span of three (3) days in January of this year commencing on January 19, the Washington Post engaged in a modern-day form of McCarthyism to claim leadership of a mainstream & social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified & threatened Nick Sandmann, an innocent minor," attorney Lin Wood said.

He continued: "The Post published to third parties without privilege no less than six false and defamatory articles of and concerning Nicholas, including two in its print newspaper and four online."

According to the Daily Wire, Sandmann's lawyers sent "letters for potential lawsuits to over 50 entities ranging from Democratic politicians to celebrities to media figures."

That list includes journalists, media outlets and celebrities:

1. The Washington Post
2. The New York Times
3. Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN)
4. The Guardian
5. National Public Radio
6. TMZ
7. Atlantic Media Inc.
8. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.
9. Diocese of Covington
10. Diocese of Lexington
11. Archdiocese of Louisville
12. Diocese of Baltimore
13. Ana Cabrera (CNN)
14. Sara Sidner (CNN)
15. Erin Burnett (CNN)
16. S.E. Cupp (CNN)
17. Elliot C. McLaughlin (CNN)
18. Amanda Watts (CNN)
19. Emanuella Grinberg (CNN)
20. Michelle Boorstein (Washington Post)
21. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (Washington Post)
22. Antonio Olivo (Washington Post)
23. Joe Heim (Washington Post)
24. Michael E. Miller (Washington Post)
25. Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post)
26. Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post)
27. Kristine Phillips (Washington Post)
28. Sarah Mervosh (New York Times)
29. Emily S. Rueb (New York Times)
30. Maggie Haberman (New York Times)
31. David Brooks (New York Times)
32. Shannon Doyne
33. Kurt Eichenwald
34. Andrea Mitchell (NBC/MSNBC)
35. Savannah Guthrie (NBC)
36. Joy Reid (MSNBC)
37. Chuck Todd (NBC)
38. Noah Berlatsky
39. Elisha Fieldstadt (NBC)
40. Eun Kyung Kim
41. HBO
42. Bill Maher
43. Warner Media
44. Conde Nast
45. GQ
46. Heavy.com
47. The Hill
48. The Atlantic
49. Bustle.com
50. Ilhan Omar
51. Elizabeth Warren
52. Kathy Griffin
53. Alyssa Milano
54. Jim Carrey

Big Sleazy · Feb 20, 2019

PornAddict said:
After an investigation conducted by the Covington Diocese turned up no evidence that 16-year-old high school student Nicholas Sandmann confronted Native American activist Nathan Phillips during a March for Life rally at the Lincoln Memorial last month, seemingly confirming that the mainstream press was incorrect to pillory the white, MAGA-hat wearing teen for a confrontation that never actually happened, lawyers for Sandmann filed the first of what are expected to be many defamation lawsuits demanding compensatory and punitive damages for leading an Internet mob that villified Sandmann and his peers.

According to Reuters, lawyers Lin Wood and Todd McMurtry are seeking $250 million in damages from the Washington Post on behalf of Sandmann, a sum equal to the amount that billionaire Jeff Bezos paid to buy the paper in 2013.

The suit claims that the paper - which helped publicize a now infamous photo that helped trigger an Internet mob that swiftly outed the teen and demanded he be punished - led the hate campaign against Sandmann - and failed to practice proper journalistic due diligence - "because he was the white, Catholic student wearing a red 'Make America Great Again' souvenir cap on a school field trip to the January 18 March for Life in Washington, D.C. when he was unexpectedly and suddenly confronted by Nathan Phillips ('Phillips'), a known Native American activist, who beat a drum and sang loudly within inches of his face ('the January 18 incident')."

Not only did the diocese's investigation corroborate the students' version of events, but it also found no evidence to support Phillips' claims that Sandmann and his fellow students had been chanting "build the wall" at the time of the confrontation. What really happened - as is now widely known - is that the students, who were marching with the pro-life rally, were verbally accosted by the Black Hebrew Israelites, who hurled homophobic slurs at the students and accosted them.

"In targeting and bullying Nicholas by falsely accusing him of instigating the January 18 incident, the Post conveyed that Nicholas engaged in acts of racism by “swarming” Phillips, “blocking” his exit away from the students, and otherwise engaging in racist misconduct," the suit read. "The Post ignored basic journalist standards because it wanted to advance its well-known and easily documented, biased agenda against President Donald J. Trump (“the President”) by impugning individuals perceived to be supporters of the President."

The Washington Post’s Vice President for Communications Kristine Coratti Kelly told Reuters "We are reviewing a copy of the lawsuit and we plan to mount a vigorous defense."

Sandmann's lawyers also accused WaPo of resorting to modern-day McCarthyism to "claim leadership of a mainstream & social media mob" of bullies who sought to attack and defame Sandmann. The suit also accused WaPo of publishing "no less than six false and defamatory articles".

"In a span of three (3) days in January of this year commencing on January 19, the Washington Post engaged in a modern-day form of McCarthyism to claim leadership of a mainstream & social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified & threatened Nick Sandmann, an innocent minor," attorney Lin Wood said.

He continued: "The Post published to third parties without privilege no less than six false and defamatory articles of and concerning Nicholas, including two in its print newspaper and four online."

According to the Daily Wire, Sandmann's lawyers sent "letters for potential lawsuits to over 50 entities ranging from Democratic politicians to celebrities to media figures."

That list includes journalists, media outlets and celebrities:

1. The Washington Post
2. The New York Times
3. Cable News Network, Inc. (CNN)
4. The Guardian
5. National Public Radio
6. TMZ
7. Atlantic Media Inc.
8. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp.
9. Diocese of Covington
10. Diocese of Lexington
11. Archdiocese of Louisville
12. Diocese of Baltimore
13. Ana Cabrera (CNN)
14. Sara Sidner (CNN)
15. Erin Burnett (CNN)
16. S.E. Cupp (CNN)
17. Elliot C. McLaughlin (CNN)
18. Amanda Watts (CNN)
19. Emanuella Grinberg (CNN)
20. Michelle Boorstein (Washington Post)
21. Cleve R. Wootson Jr. (Washington Post)
22. Antonio Olivo (Washington Post)
23. Joe Heim (Washington Post)
24. Michael E. Miller (Washington Post)
25. Eli Rosenberg (Washington Post)
26. Isaac Stanley-Becker (Washington Post)
27. Kristine Phillips (Washington Post)
28. Sarah Mervosh (New York Times)
29. Emily S. Rueb (New York Times)
30. Maggie Haberman (New York Times)
31. David Brooks (New York Times)
32. Shannon Doyne
33. Kurt Eichenwald
34. Andrea Mitchell (NBC/MSNBC)
35. Savannah Guthrie (NBC)
36. Joy Reid (MSNBC)
37. Chuck Todd (NBC)
38. Noah Berlatsky
39. Elisha Fieldstadt (NBC)
40. Eun Kyung Kim
41. HBO
42. Bill Maher
43. Warner Media
44. Conde Nast
45. GQ
46. Heavy.com
47. The Hill
48. The Atlantic
49. Bustle.com
50. Ilhan Omar
51. Elizabeth Warren
52. Kathy Griffin
53. Alyssa Milano
54. Jim Carrey

They should all be sued for defamation. If you're going to publicly accuse someone without evidence you should have to pay for your crime.

jcpro · Feb 20, 2019

Big Sleazy said:
They should all be sued for defamation. If you're going to publicly accuse someone without evidence you should have to pay for your crime.

This was worse. The reason the suit is going forward and will succeed because they had the evidence to the contrary available to them. Yet,they went ahead with the accusations, anyway. They knowingly defamed the kid. This kind of lawsuit makes the lawyers salivate.

Frankfooter · Feb 20, 2019

jcpro said:
This was worse. The reason the suit is going forward and will succeed because they had the evidence to the contrary available to them. Yet,they went ahead with the accusations, anyway. They knowingly defamed the kid. This kind of lawsuit makes the lawyers salivate.

The suit will fail, defamation in the state says you need to give 10 days for a chance for an apology but they filed the suit after 5 days.
Whoops.

jcpro · Feb 20, 2019

Frankfooter said:
The suit will fail, defamation in the state says you need to give 10 days for a chance for an apology but they filed the suit after 5 days.
Whoops.

LOL!!! We'll let the jury decide. Unanimous verdict is not required in a civil suit, btw. But, don't worry, most of them will settle.

Frankfooter · Feb 20, 2019

jcpro said:
LOL!!! We'll let the jury decide. Unanimous verdict is not required in a civil suit, btw. But, don't worry, most of them will settle.

https://lawandcrime.com/legal-analy...just-cost-him-millions-with-a-rookie-mistake/

PornAddict · Feb 21, 2019

Frankfooter said:
https://lawandcrime.com/legal-analy...just-cost-him-millions-with-a-rookie-mistake/

From your article

In a subsequent statement to Law&Crime, Wood said the timing of the complaint was not a mistake, but intentional, so WaPo would know he means business. If they issue a retraction, then he’ll address any changes he might need to make to the complaint.

“We felt that the Post should have the added benefit of full knowledge of the seriousness of our case in making its decision on a retraction,” he said. “We do not expect the Post to retract but if it does so, we will evaluate the sufficiency of the retraction to decide if the Complaint needs to be amended.”

PornAddict · Mar 10, 2019

$250M Lawsuit Against CNN Imminent; Covington High MAGA Student Suffered "Vicious" And "Direct Attacks"

Sat, 03/09/2019 - 20:00

CNN is about to be sued for more than $250 million for spreading fake news about 16-year-old Covington High School student Nicholas Sandmann.

Sandmann was viciously attacked by left-leaning news outlets over a deceptively edited video clip from the January March for Life rally at the Lincoln Memorial, in which the MAGA-hat-wearing teenager appeared to be mocking a Native American man beating a drum. Around a day later, a longer version of the video revealed that Sandmann did absolutely nothing wrong - after the media had played judge, jury and executioner of Sandmann's reputation.

CNN will be the second MSM outlet sued over their reporting of the incident, after Sandmann launched a $250 million lawsuit against the Washington Post in late February.

Speaking with Fox News host Mark Levin in an interview set to air Sunday, Sandmann's attorney, L. Lin Wood, said "CNN was probably more vicious in its direct attacks on Nicholas than The Washington Post. And CNN goes into millions of individuals' homes. It's broadcast into their homes."

"They really went after Nicholas with the idea that he was part of a mob that was attacking the Black Hebrew Israelites, yelling racist slurs at the Black Hebrew Israelites," continued Wood. "Totally false. Saying things like that Nicholas was part of a group that was threatening the Black Hebrew Israelites, that they thought it was going to be a lynching."

"Why didn't they stop and just take an hour and look through the internet and find the truth and then report it?" Wood asked. "Maybe do that before you report the lies. They didn't do it. They were vicious. It was false. CNN will be sued next week, and the dollar figure in the CNN case may be higher than it was [against] The Washington Post."

https://youtu.be/m_VBaAppFfM

Knuckle Ball · Mar 10, 2019

This suit has no chance of success. The First Amendment and Freedom of the Press laws give media a great deal of latitude in the US.

Sandmann and his attorneys are just hoping that the Post and other media outlets will agree to an out of court settlement to avoid negative publicity. They’re essentially shaking the tree and hoping some money will fall out.

bver_hunter · Mar 10, 2019

Knuckle Ball said:
This suit has no chance of success. The First Amendment and Freedom of the Press laws give media a great deal of latitude in the US.

Sandmann and his attorneys are just hoping that the Post and other media outlets will agree to an out of court settlement to avoid negative publicity. They’re essentially shaking the tree and hoping some money will fall out.

Suing for $250 million is ridiculous and maybe the sky will fall in.

But why don't we setup a similar scenario in the USA, and sucker the media to report it falsely, and then sue each of them for $100 million....... Do not want to be too greedy, by demanding $250 million. Then, we can be hobbyists for the rest of our lives without any stress or pain. Errr, by the way we cannot do any tomahawk chops, or harass any women in the park, or even come up with statements like It is not Rape if you are Enjoying it. LOL!!

jcpro · Mar 10, 2019

Knuckle Ball said:
This suit has no chance of success. The First Amendment and Freedom of the Press laws give media a great deal of latitude in the US.

Sandmann and his attorneys are just hoping that the Post and other media outlets will agree to an out of court settlement to avoid negative publicity. They’re essentially shaking the tree and hoping some money will fall out.

Actually, they have a good chance as the First Amendment does not cover libel and slander.

Knuckle Ball · Mar 10, 2019

jcpro said:
Actually, they have a good chance as the First Amendment does not cover libel and slander.

They reported the story in real time as it evolved.

You’ve got CNN confused with your friends at Fox and InfoWars.

jcpro · Mar 10, 2019

Knuckle Ball said:
They reported the story in real time as it evolved.

You’ve got CNN confused with your friends at Fox and InfoWars.

Personal attack aside, EVERYONE had access to the FULL video-actually more than one- that put the situation in its proper context. That's why the suit is going ahead because some media, despite of having the truth in their possession, decided to outright lie. Oh, and Fox did not participate in the lynching. Bad Fox, eh?

Butler1000 · Mar 10, 2019

Knuckle Ball said:
They reported the story in real time as it evolved.

You’ve got CNN confused with your friends at Fox and InfoWars.

What is making this suit do Interesting is the long term ramifications. Lately the press has been operating with a publish without verification and apologize after mindset.

But in the age of social media and Google this is alot more problematic.

Really it's going to set a precedent on responsibility of the media in using social media.

WarGames · Mar 10, 2019

The real facts of the case were easily investigated by amateurs on the internet. The fact that the defendants (CNN et al) didn’t bother to do due diligence smacks of negligence. Fox was not part of that smear campaign, will give them that. They waited for the facts.

Lin Wood was a guest on Life, Liberty & Levin this evening. Incredible interview. Must watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1iUtWmHvuI

onthebottom · Mar 11, 2019

I find it hard to believe anyone would consider CNN a news organization.

bver_hunter · Mar 12, 2019

CNN is definitely the a Real News Media, not like the State Television that is a voice of Trump called Fox.

WarGames · Mar 12, 2019

onthebottom said:
I find it hard to believe anyone would consider CNN a news organization.

CNN is not a news network and their anchors are not journalists. They're a propaganda arm of the Democrat party and their guests are left-wing political activists.

CNN better hold onto their fake news asses because Lin Wood is gonna rip 'em a new one

bver_hunter · Mar 12, 2019

WarGames said:
CNN is not a news network and their anchors are not journalists. They're a propaganda arm of the Democrat party and their guests are left-wing political activists.

CNN better hold onto their fake news asses because Lin Wood is gonna rip 'em a new one

Since when did you see CNN journalists or anchors actually share a campaign platform like Hannity and Judge or lack of it Pirro did so with Trump!!

No wonder Fox News:

Covington HighSchool Student Files $250Million Defamation Suit Against WashingtonPost

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