Iraq Veteran Sues Moore Over 9/11 Film

[warpedskydiver 0]

Iraq Veteran Sues Moore Over 9/11 Film
By DENISE LAVOIE, AP Legal Affairs Writer
Wed May 31, 6:25 PM


Michael Moore is shown in Traverse City, Mich., in ...
BOSTON - A veteran who lost both arms in the war in Iraq is suing filmmaker Michael Moore for $85 million, alleging that Moore used snippets of a television interview without his permission to falsely portray him as anti-war in "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Sgt. Peter Damon, a National Guardsman from Middleborough, is asking for damages because of "loss of reputation, emotional distress, embarrassment, and personal humiliation," according to the lawsuit filed in Suffolk Superior Court last week.

Damon, 33, claims that Moore never asked for his consent to use a clip from an interview Damon did with NBC's "Nightly News."

He lost his arms when a tire on a Black Hawk helicopter exploded while he and another reservist were servicing the aircraft on the ground. Another reservist was killed in the explosion.

In his interview with NBC, Damon was asked about a new painkiller the military was using on wounded veterans. He claims in his lawsuit that the way Moore used the film clip in "Fahrenheit 9/11" _ Moore's scathing 2004 documentary criticizing the Bush administration and the war in Iraq _ makes him appear to "voice a complaint about the war effort" when he was actually complaining about "the excruciating type of pain" that comes with the injury he suffered.

In the movie, Damon is shown lying on a gurney, with his wounds bandaged. He says he feels likes he's "being crushed in a vise."

"But they (the painkillers) do a lot to help it," he says. "And they take a lot of the edge off of it."

Damon is shown shortly after U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., is speaking about the Bush administration and says, "You know, they say they're not leaving any veterans behind, but they're leaving all kinds of veterans behind."

Damon contends that Moore's positioning of the clip just after the congressman's comments makes him appear as if he feels like he was "left behind" by the Bush administration and the military.

In his lawsuit, Damon says he "agrees with and supports the President and the United States' war effort, and he was not left behind."

He said that, while at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center recovering from his wounds, he had surgery and physical therapy, learned to use prosthetics and live independently. He also said that Homes For Our Troops, a not-for-profit group, built him a house with handicapped accessibility.

"The work creates a substantially fictionalized and falsified implication as a wounded serviceman who was left behind when Plaintiff was not left behind but supported, financially and emotionally, by the active assistance of the President, the United States and his family, friends, acquaintances and community," Damon says in his lawsuit.

Moore did not immediately return calls seeking comment Wednesday. A message was left for Moore at a personal number in New York and with HarperCollins, publisher of Moore's 2002 book, "Stupid White Men...And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation!"

A spokesman for Miramax Film Corp., also named as a defendant, did not immediately return a call.

Damon did not immediately respond to a request for an interview.

"It's upsetting to him because he's lived his life supportive of his government, he's been a patriot, he's been a soldier, and he's now being portrayed in a movie that is the antithesis of all of that," Damon's lawyer, Dennis Lynch, said.

Damon is seeking $75 million in damages for emotional distress and loss of reputation. His wife is suing for an additional $10 million in damages because of the mental distress caused to her husband, Lynch said.

Editor's Note: Denise Lavoie is a Boston-based reporter covering the courts and legal issues. She can be reached at dlavoie(at)ap.org

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

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Michale Moore had better start saving coupons

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[Brian3576 0]

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Damon is seeking $75 million in damages for emotional distress and loss of reputation. His wife is suing for an additional $10 million in damages because of the mental distress caused to her husband, Lynch said.

and i'm going to sue for $134 million for him because i think it's appauling too !!

this seems like just another case of somebody seeing a money opportunity and sueing for it

[Sockpuppet 0]

I dont think he's going to win. The clip would be property of NBC and they decide who gets to use it. He would have had to sign a disclaimer allowing the studio to broadcast it.

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Two of the three voices in my head agree with you. It might actually be unanimous but voice three only speaks Welsh.

[Brian3576 0]

i'm sure Michael Moore would have said "all those who don't want me to use their footage, raise your hand" he didn't seem to mind then did he !!!!

[warpedskydiver 0]

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i'm sure Michael Moore would have said "all those who don't want me to use their footage, raise your hand" he didn't seem to mind then did he !!!!

Do you always use the maimed as the point of your jokes?

Hey Mr I don't post any information about myself!

I think I would like to talk to you in person about this matter, yeah thats a great idea!

You and I could debate this face to face
I don't think you understand that even abnormal, and downright weird people know that humor about those who have seriously been injured, is just really fucking sick, and makes you sound like an asshole.

I think that in reflection upon this fact you may want to reconsider your feelings on this topic.

Thanks in advance for your swift attention to this matter.

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[BIGUN 1,297]

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this seems like just another case of somebody seeing a money opportunity and sueing for it

Not for this young warrior. He's pissed and trying to make a point. Someone pointed at him and used him to make a point from their disparate side of the platform. He doesn't give two shits about the money. He'd much rather kick the shit out of Moore.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[pirana 0]

[replyHe doesn't give two shits about the money. He'd much rather kick the shit out of Moore.

[pirana 0]

[BIGUN 1,297]

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Asking for 10's of millions of dollars is a funny way of showing how little he cares about the money.

Whaddya expect him to do - sue for a buck? His attornies came up with the number. Hell, it's hard to win a million in a wrongful death, He knows that, the attorneys know that. This is about making a point for him and his fellow veterans as being "left behind."

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[kallend 2,026]

I bet he's been put up to it by a political group, rather like Paula Jones was put up to suing Clinton.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Darius11 12]

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Not for this young warrior.

Do you know him personally?


I don’t know about the money amount or any of that, but if someone took what I said and turned around to mean the exact opposite I would be very angry too. I guess they can just show the whole clip to see what was really said and meant.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[bch7773 0]

I suspect he knows he will lose the lawsuit. but he's doing it to raise awareness about his point.

I don't agree with suing people just so you can raise a point though. whether i agree with them or not.

MB 3528, RB 1182

[rehmwa 2]

I bet either the DNC or Moore himself is putting him up to it to generate more publicity.

pathetic

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[03CLS 0]

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I bet either the DNC or Moore himself is putting him up to it to generate more publicity.

pathetic

Don't you mean the PNAC!

[kelpdiver 2]

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Asking for 10's of millions of dollars is a funny way of showing how little he cares about the money.

Whaddya expect him to do - sue for a buck? His attornies came up with the number. Hell, it's hard to win a million in a wrongful death, He knows that, the attorneys know that. This is about making a point for him and his fellow veterans as being "left behind."

the point being that they can pull numbers out of thin air?

[pirana 0]

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Whaddya expect him to do - sue for a buck?

Exactly. If they truly didn't care about the money, the suit would be for some token amount (as you suggested, yes, $1) or for some reasonable amount, like maybe $100K. No way do I believe they don't care about the money when the suit is for, what is it, $70,000,000?

That would be like me saying I don't care about beer while on my way to the liquor store to attempt a purchase.

" . . . the lust for power can be just as completely satisfied by suggesting people into loving their servitude as by flogging them and kicking them into obedience." -- Aldous Huxley

[freethefly 6]

I suspect that the one who cares most is the law firm that hopes to make millions.

"...And once you're gone, you can't come back
When you're out of the blue and into the black."
Neil Young

[Brian3576 0]

are we actually living in a society where some hurt feelings and a little dented pride is worth $70 million yet soldiers who get war compensation get a fraction of that... or victims of crime (in England) get peanuts from the criminal injuries board

crazy wrold we live in

[03CLS 0]

It's all about the money. The suit is worth $80 million, he is in for $70 million and his wife for the other $10 million. I can't blame him though this adminstration is more than happy to sent our military to WAR and then..... And yes this is old.

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Dishonorable_discharge_112603.htm

[mnealtx 0]

As opposed to Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Kosovo...? All politicians drape themselves in the flag when it benefits them...

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[BIGUN 1,297]

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Exactly. If they truly didn't care about the money, the suit would be for some token amount (as you suggested, yes, $1) or for some reasonable amount, like maybe $100K. No way do I believe they don't care about the money when the suit is for, what is it, $70,000,000?

Oh Puhleeeese. You think that a soldier does anything a little bit? Yeah, a dollar or a 100K wouldn't have shown the world he's pissed about it. Go get in a firefight, lose your arms, have someone disparage your views and get back wiith me.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[jenfly00 0]

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i'm sure Michael Moore would have said "all those who don't want me to use their footage, raise your hand" he didn't seem to mind then did he !!!!

Do you always use the maimed as the point of your jokes?

Hey Mr I don't post any information about myself!

I think I would like to talk to you in person about this matter, yeah thats a great idea!

You and I could debate this face to face
I don't think you understand that even abnormal, and downright weird people know that humor about those who have seriously been injured, is just really fucking sick, and makes you sound like an asshole.

I think that in reflection upon this fact you may want to reconsider your feelings on this topic.

Thanks in advance for your swift attention to this matter.

Lighten up, Francis.

-----------------------
"O brave new world that has such people in it".

[ROK 0]

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Whaddya expect him to do - sue for a buck?

Exactly. If they truly didn't care about the money, the suit would be for some token amount (as you suggested, yes, $1) or for some reasonable amount, like maybe $100K. No way do I believe they don't care about the money when the suit is for, what is it, $70,000,000?

That would be like me saying I don't care about beer while on my way to the liquor store to attempt a purchase.

Who wouldn't want 70 million bucks???

I personally don't believe this takes away from the point he's trying to make at all. If I were seriously injured while taking an active role in defending my Country, my mind-set would be that there was a purpose behind that injury. Perhaps it's the only thread I'd have to hang on to. My sanity may depend on it. In comes a wanker like Mr. Moore and not only does he snatch it away, he uses it like a stick to beat the shit out of your sustaining beliefs. Yeah, I'd be a little pissed. I'd want news attention and anything at my disposal to fight back.

Does everyone realize the psychological damage that people like Moore may do to our sisters and brothers in arms? In combat, the last thing you need is to be doubting whether what you're doing is right or wrong.

When you raise your hand, and swear to defend your Country on foreign or domestic soils, you lose the right to actively oppose your mission. A strong bond with your fellow soldiers, and a belief in what you're doing keeps many going. I'd be willing to bet some big cash that if he were offered money to withdraw his statements, he'd tell the fat bastard to stick it up his ass...