Sacha Baron Cohen beats ex-judge Roy Moore's defamation appeal

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Sacha Baron Cohen on Thursday defeated an appeal by former Alabama judge Roy Moore accusing the British comedian of defamation for falsely portraying him as a pedophile in an interview for the show "Who Is America?"

In a 3-0 vote, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the interview was constitutionally protected speech, agreeing with a lower court judge that it was "clearly comedy and that no reasonable viewer would conclude otherwise."

The court also said Moore waived his right to pursue his $95 million lawsuit by signing a standard consent agreement before the interview, which he knew would be televised. It also dismissed related claims by Moore's wife Kayla.

Larry Klayman, the Moores' lawyer, called the decision a "travesty," saying the consent agreement was ambiguous because Judge Moore crossed out a provision waiving claims related to alleged sexually oriented behavior and questioning.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sacha-baron-cohen-beats-ex-145726423.html

[elleng]

1. "clearly comedy and that no reasonable viewer would conclude otherwise."

[Archae]

2. He had as his lawyer Larry Klayman?

Seriously?

Larry Klayman is a joke.

http://americanloons.blogspot.com/2011/05/213-larry-klayman.html

[FSogol]

5. Has Klayman ever won a case?

[SunSeeker]

6. Larry Klayman needs to be disbarred.

He has a decades long history of abusing his law license. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Klayman

[DFW]

13. As befits a comedy, after all. n/t

[ck4829]

3. #1) Moore should have had a better lawyer, not that he stood a chance anyway

[LiberalLovinLug]

4. Its comedy. But its smart comedy that reveals truth

I was a little worried Sacha would have to pay. But dang, the US laws of free speech win again.

His bit with Roy Moore was done definitely to highlight Moore's abuses to underage girls in real life. And that anyone watching it would immediately connect the two. Too bad, so sad Roy.

[Javaman]

7. the consent agreement forms are hard to beat.

unless the filmmaker does something grossly distorted or completely malicious, the release forms are pretty iron clad.

I used to work in film, started as a PA and worked up to cinematographer, and the one thing you learn, above everything else, is contracts.

[The Grand Illuminist]

8. Does that mean....

Moore won't take it to SCOTUS?

[FakeNoose]

9. "Who Is America?" - was this show ever aired?

I don't think I ever heard of it. It couldn't have gotten much airtime.

[Lucky Luciano]

10. Oh my...some of the funniest shit I've ever seen! Top Scenes below

Last edited Thu Jul 7, 2022, 10:58 PM - Edit history (1)

[FakeNoose]

12. Thanks, I see it's a Showtime mini-series

I don't have Showtime but I might be able to find some of these episodes.

Great stuff, my friend!

[joemacdawson]

11. Hilarious and Frightening

Revealing in both senses of the word.