I understood your sarcasm and the :rolleyes: wasn’t directed at you. My roll eyes would have been directed to anybody actually may think it was the best way to handle the situation.
Well, depending on what the basis of their claim was and exactly what he has been up to, Hilal may have a libel (actually slander, I think) case.
But I agree; it doesn’t appear that they have actually slandered the couple who lives there now. It’s more like they incited a riot against them.
I could see a slander argument to be made here. Fox identified the people at 666 Fake Street as terrorists. The people at 666 Fake Street are not terrorists. Therefore, they’ve been slandered. They also incorrectly identified the people at 666 Fake Street as a Muslim named Hilal, but that’s not slanderous, so doesn’t really matter. Don’t know if this would hold up legally, though.
They’re probably sorry for the inconvience.
Well, they’ve done before while reporting house fires and such. In this case, I agree, Loftus was an ass and should be smacked down hard. At the very least, he owes the family an apology delivered in person and an apology to his audience, on air, with much groveling. His “mistakes happen” and “the best way to notify police” comes across as arrogant and unapologetic.
I wonder how Loftus would feel if his house was on fire and somebody decided to call his show to let the fire department know, rather than actually call the fire department.
For libel and slander cases, the name being mentioned is not paramount, it’s a matter of identification. You can identify someone without giving a name (like “Professor of Oriental art at a nearby college” if that can only describe on person) even while giving an incorrect name. He negligently identified a private citizen by address as a terrorist, so he’s definitely up the creek if this goes to court.
Not to mention besides the legal questions, there’s also a questions of morals, and none were used here.
All you people are thinking criminal, when this is a slam-dunk civil case against everyone at FOX NEWS who was within five feet of this bomb. Loftus, his handlers, the editorial staff and fact-checkers (both of them), and even the management could be found liable and forced to pay hefty damages in civil court.
The lawyers who take this on contingency are probably going to make boat payments for the next decade or so off this case.
Not one single person in the thread before you said anything about criminal.
I plead brainfart, and throw myself on the mercy of the Dopers.
Can anyone supply any info on whether Loftus actually prosecuted any cases while working for the Justice Dept?
I found a link which suggested that he did not.
No, people were talking about “libel”. Which is also a criminal offence (although having a much higher standard of proof than at the civil level). Which is what I figured Dereth meant but as he’s already pleaded to"brainfart" there’s nothing I can do :D.
But as far as slander:
“I could see a slander argument to be made here. Fox identified the people at 666 Fake Street as terrorists. The people at 666 Fake Street are not terrorists. Therefore, they’ve been slandered. They also incorrectly identified the people at 666 Fake Street as a Muslim named Hilal, but that’s not slanderous, so doesn’t really matter.”
I think they have a case, but the bigger issue is Hilal has a case. If they identified him as a terrorist. The FBI says he’s not (er…that is, they don’t say he is).
As horrific as it is that people completely uninvolved got caught up in this, it’s not much better that someone who has been convicted of nothing, and, at the moment suspected of nothing, has his adress put out, in a clear invitation to harrassment. What’s scarerier is if it had been the “right” guy who got vandalized, would it have made news?
If they don’t fire all involved I will lose all respect for FOX as a journalistic organization…oh…wait. Nevermind
7,000 posts and yet retains such charming innocence.
Maybe it’s a new trend for spelling words the way the President pronounces them.
I thought it was something to do with Terra. Maybe they’re members of the ELF?
It just goes to show that you can’t spell “terrorist” without “error.”
maybe ALF lived there! He’s Back! In pog form!
How many of those involved in this affair had been on record as chastising Dan Rather?
G bonics?
And the best play on words for the day goes to…
Larry Mudd