is it possible to sue TV network?

[awarenss1]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

I would like to know if it is possible to sue a TV network for the slanderous portrayal of a person with a genetic disability. I have terrible heartache over the inaccuracies and the prejudices the general public may now have against someone because of that episode. The medical information was inaccurate; they used words like "freak", "pedophiles dream" and talked in absolutes that would leave one to believe ALL people with that syndrome are like that. I believe they targeted a lesser population because they could get away with it. I can’t believe they would have aired an episode where the "supposed" experts would for insistence spew out false information (making it seem true) about those living with HIV because of the backlash it would ensue.

Do I have any recourse besides a letter writing campaign that will most likely get ignored?What is the name of your state?

 

[moburkes]

Sure, you can sue. Are you talking about LAW & ORDER?

 

[awarenss1]

Yes...I guess I would need to know how or where do I start?What kind of lawyer would I be looking for?

 

[moburkes]

What are you suing them for? What slander?

 

[enjay]

You can't slander a fictitious character nor can you insist that every portrayal of anyone, anywhere be politically correct. Your best course of action is to write a letter and let your voice be heard.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

What are you suing them for? What slander?

Turner's Syndrome is a rare chromosomal disorder of females (1:2500) characterized by short stature and the lack of sexual development at puberty. This syndrome was first described by H.H. Turner in 1938. Other physical features may include a webbed neck, heart defects, kidney abnormalities, and/or various other malformations. Normally, females have two X chromosomes.

In some cases of Turner's Syndrome, however, one X chromosome is missing from the cells (45,X); research studies suggest that approximately 40 percent of these individuals may have some Y chromosomal material in addition to the one X chromosome. In other affected females, both X chromosomes may be present, but one may have genetic defects. In still other cases, some cells may have the normal pair of X chromosomes while other cells do not (45,X/46,XX mosaicism).

Although the exact cause of Turner's Syndrome is not known, it is believed that the disorder may result from an error during the division (meiosis) of a parent's sex cells.

 

[moburkes]

Oh, BB, I got that. I'm asking what is the slander? Who was it directed at? I'm with enjay on this one.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

Oh, BB, I got that. I'm asking what is the slander? Who was it directed at? I'm with enjay on this one.

Oh that's easy. The poster either has, knows someone who has, or knows OF someone who has Turner's. and in their mind, that's enough to file a lawsuit over.

 

[moburkes]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. I get it now.
So, then can I sue because the Detective hasn't signed the divorce papers yet? Because there are plenty of people on this board who want to get a divorce, and that's JUST NOT FAIR!

 

[fairisfair]

Besides which, I watched that show, being completely ignorant of the condition, and that is in no way the impression that I got of the person afflicted with the "condition". She was portrayed as a highly intelligent, articulate young woman.

 

[awarenss1]

My problem is not with the character...I understand they can not make everyone politically correct. There are certain cultures, races that are sometimes protrayed in a stereotypical or derrogatory manner. I get that. I am wondering if its the fact that the "medical experts"on the show can spew out false information about a factual proven disability. In the show it was not portayed as opinion.

Would a "medical expert" in a show be able to state as fact that all people with HIV are gay and you can get aids by shaking hands? I only use that as an example because I beleive that AIDs activists,gay activists, civil rights whoever would be pounding down NBC's door.

Its not like they made a ceratain race a drug dealer or a ceratin culture a terrorist. They targeted a smaller population with a chromosome anomoly and falsified fact . Everyone in the US that didnt know anything about this condition is know prediposed to prejudical beliefs.

Thanks for the medical lesson. Not sure what purpose that served as seeing inaccurate information was made to be fact on the show and it was made in references not excluding.

Anyway thank you all for your time...it might not be slander but it does fall under some catagory.

 

[fairisfair]

Ahhhhhhhhhhh. I get it now.
So, then can I sue because the Detective hasn't signed the divorce papers yet? Because there are plenty of people on this board who want to get a divorce, and that's JUST NOT FAIR!

Oh, cmon Mo, you mean you didn't take his "duh, I don't know" answer to heart??

 

[fairisfair]

My problem is not with the character...I understand they can not make everyone politically correct. There are certain cultures, races that are sometimes protrayed in a stereotypical or derrogatory manner. I get that. I am wondering if its the fact that the "medical experts"on the show can spew out false information about a factual proven disability. In the show it was not portayed as opinion.

Would a "medical expert" in a show be able to state as fact that all people with HIV are gay and you can get aids by shaking hands? I only use that as an example because I beleive that AIDs activists,gay activists, civil rights whoever would be pounding down NBC's door.

Its not like they made a ceratain race a drug dealer or a ceratin culture a terrorist. They targeted a smaller population with a chromosome anomoly and falsified fact . Everyone in the US that didnt know anything about this condition is know prediposed to prejudical beliefs.

Thanks for the medical lesson. Not sure what purpose that served as seeing inaccurate information was made to be fact on the show and it was made in references not excluding.

Anyway thank you all for your time...it might not be slander but it does fall under some catagory.

I felt more like they were targeting the detectives and their bias and ignorance of the condition, than the girl. Sorry you saw it differently.

 

[moburkes]

it might not be slander but it does fall under some catagory.

You are correct. Therefore TV should simply go away since every statement made has to be accurate, double checked, triple checked, and if one person that they check with disagrees, then the show must not go on.
Oh, and the category-its TELEVISION.

 

[You Are Guilty]

In the landmark case of Roker v. Rogers (2001), I won a $1,000,000 judgment against Fred Rogers and his employer (the network) on a slander claim, because, despite his (incorrect) assertions otherwise, it was not a "beautiful day in the neighborhood". Fact checking is, unfortunately, a thing of the past it seems.

I say help feed a starving lawyer and sue away!