John Oliver is facing the legal wrath of a lawsuit-happy coal baron after a brutal segment in which the host tore into the American coal industry.。
The document accuses Oliver of a "ruthless character assassination" of Robert Murray, CEO of the nation's largest coal mining operation, Murray Energy. 。
SEE ALSO:Coal company sues John Oliver for being John Oliver 。It didn't exactly come as a surprise; in fact, Oliver more or less dared the notoriously litigious coal boss by mocking an earlier cease-and-desist letter from his company on the show. And at least one first amendment lawyer has said Murray doesn't have much of a leg to stand on. 。
But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy the absurd spectacle of the legal team for the man Oliver described as a "geriatric Dr. Evil" trying to out-bombast the HBO comedian's signature hyperbolic wit in dry legalese. 。
Here are some of the lawsuit's best moments:。
Murray's giant squirrel tormenter 。
"Defendants continued their ruthless character assassination and attack on Plaintiffs’ business reputations by describing Mr. Murray as someone who 'looks like a geriatric Dr. Evil' and arranging for a staff member to dress up in a squirrel costume and deliver the message 'Eat Shit, Bob!” to Mr. Murray.'" 。
BTW Murray didn't actually talk to a squirrel, OK?
"Specifically, in reference to an absurd story that Mr. Murray claimed a squirrel had told him he should operate his own mines, Defendant Oliver stated 'You know what, I actually believe him on that one.'"。
Oliver endorses Mr. Nutterbutter's vulgar harassment。
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On second thought, he's got a point. Have you no decency, Mr. Nutterbutter?
Good faith efforts。
Murray's lawyers seem to be working under a loose definition of "good faith efforts" that encompasses cease-and-desist letters.。
Neither ceasing nor desisting。
How many lawsuits are able to claim that a defendant explicitly announced their intention to ignore them on national television?
How many lawsuits are able to claim that a defendant explicitly announced their intention to ignore them on national television?
"[HBO parent Time Warner] is widely reported as a top ten donor of Hillary Clinton, as tracked by the Center for Responsive Politics at OpenSecrets.org. As a presidential candidate, Mrs. Clinton's agenda was to 'put a lotta coal miners and coal companies outta business.'" 。
Murray's lawyers have connected the dots. This one goes all the way to the top.。
Anti-Trump agenda。
"[The defendant's statements] advance their biases against the coal industry and theirdisdain for the coal-related policies of the Trump Administration."。
What's a controversy these days without a Donald Trump cameo?
Oliver's job description。
Public shame and disgrace 。
(责任编辑:綜合)