Wednesday, October 20, 2010

JEFF GREENE'S SILLY LIBEL LAWSUIT


A failed billionaire Senate candidate, Jeff Greene, has filed a $500 million libel lawsuit against two newspapers (See below).

This shows beyond peradventure that JEFF GREENE was not qualified to be U.S. Senator.

Does he suppose that he would have made $500 million as Governor? Where did he get his ad damnum figure from? Where can he show $500 million in damages?

And how in the name of all that’s holy could JEFF GREENE suppose he could ever show he meets the New York Times v. Sullivan standard for suing a public figure for libel (“Actual malice or willful disregard of the truth.”).

Damages? JEFF GREENE is irreparably damaged alright, but not by the Miami Herald or St. Petersburg Times. Perhaps he was damaged by overindulgence in some of those alleged controlled substances that were not on his yacht with Mike Tyson (best man at his wedding). Or perhaps his soul turned to stone by contact with so much money, thereby destroying his judgement.

The rich are different that you and I, as F. Scott Fitzgerald said – yes, they have more money. And in the case of Mr. GREENE , no class. What an uncouth jerk he is, destroying a coral reef in Belize for his own carnal pleasures. Damn glad he’s not going to be a United States Senator.

And like RICK SCOTT and S. GARY SNODGRASS, ex-candidate JEFF GREENE objectifies lesser mortals and looks down his nose at them. Florida voters have already kicked JEFF GREENE in the butt – now it’s the job of a court and jury to hear his silly complaint and tell him to go away.

That will also involve rejecting the theories upon which L. Lin Wood (Bryan Cave partner from Atlanta) will use to get past summary judgment – Wood is an expert on libel who successfully represented falsely accused Olympics security guard Richard Jewell and other plaintiffs.

But does Wood now have fool for a client – a rich man rejected by the voters who hires a lawyer to pursue a libel case against two respected Florida newspapers? Good luck, Mr. Wood --- you’re gonna need it. No jury in Florida will see JEFF GREENE as sympathetic. If there’s a verdict, be prepared for a shocker (like the ½ penny libel verdict in Leon Uris’ novel, QBVII).

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