Covington Catholic Student in Viral Mall Standoff with Native American Activist Sues Washington Post

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Slate

Covington Catholic Student in Viral Mall Standoff with Native American Activist Sues Washington Post for $250 Million
By ELLIOT HANNON
FEB 19, 2019 9:59 PM

The Covington Catholic high school student involved in a standoff with a Native American activist on the national mall last month is suing the Washington Post for defamation for its portrayal, according to the suit, of the MAGA hat-wearing teen as a racist instigator of the ugly interaction that went viral. Lawyers for 16-year-old Nicholas Sandmann filed suit in federal court Tuesday seeking $250 million in damages, the very same amount Jeff Bezos paid for the Washington Post, in order to “teach the Post a lesson it will never forget.” “Unlike thePost’s abuse of the profession of journalism, Plaintiffs do not bring this lawsuit to use the judicial system to further a political agenda,” the suit reads. “The Post wanted to lead the charge against this child because he was a pawn in its political war against its political adversary—a war so disconnected and beyond the comprehension of Nicholas that it might as well have been science fiction.”

“In a span of three (3) days in January of this year commencing on January 19, the Postengaged in a modern-day form of McCarthyism by competing with CNN and NBC, among others, to claim leadership of a mainstream and social media mob of bullies which attacked, vilified, and threatened Nicholas Sandmann (“Nicholas”), an innocent secondary school child,” the suit says. “The Postwrongfully targeted and bullied Nicholas 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”).



Read more: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/02/covington-catholic-student-viral-mall-maga-video-native-american-sues-washington-post.html

[SunSeeker]

1. Oh good. Can't wait till they depose the snot-nosed punk. nt

[NurseJackie]

33. I've certainly had my fill of sanctimonious snot-nosed punks and brats!

[Iliyah]

2. Backfiring . . .

[Hokie]

3. The little asshole's mother is a VP for Fidelity Investments in Cincinnati

A lot of folks have IRA or 401K money with Fidelity. Now might be a good time to write Fidelity and let them know what you think of Julie Sandmann.

[RainCaster]

13. I've been meaning to pull my funds out of Fidelity

I have a few 401Ks there from various places I've worked over the years. I can move those to another place.

[lark]

23. I moved all the 401k money out of Fidelity in 2007.

Unfortunately my pensions comes through them and I don't think I can move that.

[ffr]

4. In a public place being video taped isn't a crime. Not sure what leg he has to stand on.

It was an ugly interaction on his behalf, which is a statement of the truth. There's no law against telling the truth either. I think that's called reporting.

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. Please proceed Mr. Sandmann

[Dawson Leery]

6. This ambulance chaser of a lawyer needs to be asked what the Post's coverage of Trump has to

do with Mr. Sandmann? Someone needs to lose their law license.

[DoctorJoJo]

7. I'd Love to Sit on That Jury!

[Glorfindel]

8. "... a known Native American activist..." well, there you go.

What could possibly be more traumatizing to a poor child than that? Of course he had no defense against such a blatant attack. Paralyzed with fear, unable to walk away, he had no choice but to stand his ground and smirk. The "known Native American activist" actually beat a drum and sang! The horror...the horror...
"the innocent secondary school child"

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. Mommy! That scary native drummed right in my face!

[deurbano]

10. They hate the damn, Democrat (sic) trial lawyers right up to the moment they try to cash out on

perpetual (invented) victimhood.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. Yep

[Dr Vegas]

12. Lexington bishop says he's been threatened with defamation suit over MAGA hat op-ed

https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/tom-eblen/article225381150.html

[MBS]

28. Yes, emblematic of the fanatical partisanship of the far right.

That bishop's comments were utterly moderate and reasonable – and also nonpartisan. He was basically arguing FOR nonpartisanship. In addition to criticizing the school/teachers/other escorts not disciplining students for disrespectful behavior toward the native Americans there (the tomahawk chop among other moments), he argued that Covington HS was wrong to allow kids to wear/flaunt partisan regalia at the event.
It would be outrageous if they went through with this threatened lawsuit and unspeakably unjust if– shudder – they won.

[DallasNE]

14. The Best Source I Saw Described The Encounter Thusly

The catholic students were engaged in a foul-mouthed exchange with a small group of black protesters when Phillips and his group approached. Phillips decided to step between the other groups as a peacemaker when Nicholas decided to turn his attention to Phillips and stepped in front of him, blocking his way. This is where most of the video starts.

This article doesn't spell out what the defamation alleged is other than vilification. But that doesn't describe the acts that he claims are at the heart of his charge of vilification. Sounds a lot like a frivolous lawsuit that should be dismissed.

[RainCaster]

15. I'm looking forward to how the WaPo handles this

I bet Bezos doesn't take a hands off approach, but gives them Cart Blanche for the legal team.

[Dawson Leery]

16. Bezos would be a Patriot if he put David Pecker and these little Fascists in their place.

[dustyscamp]

17. Hopefully this won't turn out like another Hulk Hogan/Gawker situation

Even if they don't win they still win by making it seem the Media is the enemy

[Mr. Frost]

22. Gotta be prepared for the worst. Top priority.

One must be ready with contingency plans in place if and only if Sandmann wins. With that mindset, it would bring victory from the jaws of defeat.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

18. I'm surprised Trump & Sons hasn't started a nation-wide law firm....

to profit from all the thousands of law suits brought about by him and this administration......

I can just see the TV ads featuring Ivanka and Melania pushing "call 1-800-CALL-TRUMP".......

I'm needing legal help for political whiplash injury right now......

[Hugin]

19. Of course they did...

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. "Plaintiffs do not bring this lawsuit to use the judicial system to further a political agenda"

(voice over: they do).

The surprising thing about this lawsuit is that it's not brought by Larry Klayman. It has his signature batshittery.

[Calista241]

21. With Clarence Thomas's recent comments on the Cosby case

And Trump’s comments that the media should be held liable for inaccurate stories, I can see this making its way to the Supreme Court and limiting the news industry.

[gldstwmn]

27. They do seem to be oddly connected.

As someone else posited, is this what they were saving Thomas for? The big picture is all very frightening. There's a constitutional power grab by the Russian compromised president and now an orchestrated run at limiting freedom of the press/speech. The Sandmann's have money but not the kind of money to bankroll a run against the likes of the Washington Post. Surely they know the best thing for their son's future is to let him fade into obscurity unless they have other plans for him? What are they getting out of this?

[kwassa]

24. The suit sounds like it is describing Trump rather than WaPo

It also sounds like classic Trump projection of his behavior onto others.

Very much the Trump playbook.

[gldstwmn]

25. The right has decided to have a go

at the first amendment I see. This kid is their tool. I wouldn't be surprised if Roger Stone or one of his cronies has their dirty paws all over this.

[Panich52]

26. Makes his lame apology even more suspect in sincerity

[Basement Beat]

29. I cannot understand how they keep getting away with this???

How in the hell did he become the victim?
This is frustrating.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

30. In addition to lawyers they hired a big-bucks PR firm. eom

[dustyscamp]

31. RW scumbags know how to twist the narrative to their way

They have hordes on reddit, facebook, youtube and other forums twisting the truth so the regular people who don't care think Sandman is the victim

[MadDAsHell]

34. Have you watched the videos beyond the 60 second clip from the first day? nt

[IcyPeas]

32. Is that kid still attending that school?

Never heard if the school expelled him or anything.

[MadDAsHell]

35. Not sure, but the school and most media walked back statements about him after more video came out.

The school actually apologized to him for their original statement if I remember correctly. They're probably lucky they didn't expel him, or they'd be named in this same suit.

Family probably doesn't need the money but have the feeling they're about to get paid.