Archive through September 24, 2002
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Archive ONE: Possible Legal Problems: Archive through September 24, 2002

Crossfire

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
A contract that said you couldn't sue anyone for any reason, is probably not worth the paper its written on.

BTW, where did you see that Krista's suit got tossed?

Sassylady

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:19 am EditMoveDeleteIP
If this is true--And I believe everything What... says, granted the information given to What...might not be true--and forgive me Mike Boogey if I am wrong. With that said, I think Mike Boogey is still very angry with CBS for not promoting them after the show last year--some article somewhere that I read several months ago. I think he might be the one, along with Chiari getting it going. And lets not forget who else has a lawsuit--Mike's old girlfriend.

hmmm this will be interesting.

Demeter

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:19 am EditMoveDeleteIP
It is not a game show, it is an entertainment show. They all get paid a stipend. They don't "win" a stipend. In the end, the last person standing gets a big bonus.

Kellirippa

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:20 am EditMoveDeleteIP
so demeter, they are more like employees than contestants?

Allyg8r

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Crossfire,

YOu are right - blanket statements like that in contracts are not valid. I am a lawyer, but am unfamiliar with California law as I practice in Canada. I am however somewhat familiar with NY and MA law, having passed their bar exams years ago. There are certain elements that are considered of "Public Order" and cannot be contracted out of - things lilke gross negligence and wilful misconduct perhaps (as in Quebec) - and certainly anything illegal.

I supposed we can just sit and wait now...

Demeter

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yes, I think they are. They, themselves, frequently referred to the producers as their employers.

Woodpecke®

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:21 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I am inclined to think that this is merely a ploy by someone to generate publicity for Wednesday's finale. CBS is too large an entity to be bullied by a bunch of <>.

John1971

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:22 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Yeah but don't you all think then that Lisa could sue? She could claim that she wasn't given a fair shot if Dani was given the money? Everyone could sue and say Lisa's votes shouldn't count and then Lori could say she would have stayed because Lisa couldn't have nominated her.

If this is true, it just shows how people waste the court system.

Kellirippa

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:23 am EditMoveDeleteIP
by exactly what process was Lisa "hired" for the show?

Klm72

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Sorry John but I disagree with your last statement- if this is TRUE then I think it SHOULD be out there in the public and CBS should be forced to answer to it. If it's true they actually sent Lisa in then set her up as the winner by feeding her info all along, its not just bitter ex-HG who have been scammed- we, the viewers would have been too.

I know a lot of people have strong Lisa or Dani feelinsg but IMO this is about something much more important than who do you wnat to win/not win. If the accusations are true the whole show has been a fraud and we've all been had.

Demeter

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Kelli, I'm not sure what difference it makes how she was hired. A large company can use Head Hunters to fill a position, but then the CEO has a relative he'd like in the position and hires that relative. It's perfectly legal and common practice.

It is so irritating for the people who don't get the big bucks to file lawsuites, just as irritating as someone claiming injury in an accident, just because they can, not because they were truly injured.

Gidget

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Employee/contestant. Some clever legal eagle may have dreamt this up but it will never stand in the court of public opinion. You go on the show to win money. If they were employees the winners would get their STIPEND and the BONUS winning but I don't think they get the stipend.

What kind of job pays your bonus but not your salary??? Duh!!!

Wilsonatmd

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:27 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I doubt this is true...the contracts they sign to go on the show are so onerous there's no way that could happen...

and wasn't Lisa the one who was approched by a producer to come on the show only a couple of weeks before it started, and never actually applied? It was her or Chiara I believe..

Jaysgal

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:28 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I expect a lawsuit this year more than I did last year. If I were in that house, I would sue their behinds. I would hardly need a lawyer even, thanks to having one in my family. LOL!

Seriously though, many things they did this year were simply unfair and changed the entire outcome of the game. Had they not brought certain twists that not everyone was privileged to have, then the two finalists would have been very different. I would almost bet that they would have been two men or one man and a woman.

I hope they sue that network's behind. And I'm sure they have a case this time than the past BBs ever did against the network. I'm surprised they made no case pertaining to the twist.

The way they selected people is very suspicious too. Lisa Donahue isn't some ordinary Jane ... she's appeared on Rikki Lake's show before; and Josh too appeared on Blind Date. Gerry's also been on game shows. Does this automatically disqualify them? No. It just means that the process of selection should have been consistent with others. And so long as it was consistent with others and the written process, it is fine.

What I don't understand though is, if they are already planning a suit, doesn't that mean that Lisa is at a risk of not being crowned the winner? :( So long as Lisa receives it instead of Danielle, I would be content.

"I think this is a rumor, It is in their contract that they can't sue CBS or the other houseguests FOR ANY REASON."

Actually, this has no merit in the justice system. Those tiny prints can say you cannot sue us under any conditions, but the court ultimately decides. If it was an unfair contract, for instance, the court would throw out all of that claim that the person on the receiving end cannot sue.

Kellirippa

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Maybe Amy can sue because she gained weight in the house like that guy suing McDonalds and KFC!

Gidget

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Good one Kelli

Maris

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:31 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Even better tomorrow at the live show they announce that this year there is no winner due to lawsuits by the evicted HGs. The $500,000 will be placed in escrow till a winner is chosen after all the appeals processes have run out which should take about ten years. Dani will just kill all of them and say, ok now you got a winner. give me the money.

Woodpecke®

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Marcellas can blame Big Brother for turning him into a <>.

Wendo

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Cmc209 said, "WOW! Sounds like there are some former HG's who are holding a grudge against CBS."

This was my thought as well. I would say that the people who feel strongly about this (assuming it's true) would be those HG's evicted after Amy's return. She came back in with a certain amount of knowledge and "coaching" she should not have had. I remember something in Roddy's chat about Amy's return. He was very careful about what he said, but it was obvious he felt the returning HG twist was a failure.

(Additionally, why are people faulting Dani in this? She's still in the house and has no idea about any lawsuit, if there is one. And, why is it assumed she'll complain if she loses? I've seen no indication that she would. She seems fairly level headed in knowing that she's likely lost the game based on her own actions.

Perhaps it's been Lisa's comments recently, her saying she "knew" stuff from the beginning as well has her "burning secret" she can't tell on the feeds.

I will admit, I think it was lame of CBS/BB to hand pick people when I'm sure they received plenty of applications. And, I had no idea Lisa was chosen so close to the beginning of the show. Hmmm.)

Marameko

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:32 am EditMoveDeleteIP
What..........this is oh so "delicious news". Now, are we sure Lisa did not compete for a spot ? I thought that ole'Kiki was "recruited" for BB3.
Now you just know that Dani will have a coronary if she has to leave the house with NO decision made. If this inside info is true sounds like we have SORE losers suffering from a terminal case of SOUR GRAPES.

Mcmurtrey

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:33 am EditMoveDeleteIP
The only people that should be sued are the HGs, by CBS, for being so <>.

Each and every one of those HGs are lucky to have gotten a cent for their "entertainment" value.

The ONLY reason this show has been successful at all is because the producers have taken these impossibly <> people, Amy being the exception, and put them into situations that make them relatively interesting.

Sue the HGs ! !
("they changed the rules, that's not fair....blah blah blah")

Whit4you

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well explain to me folks.. if it's illegal for them to 'rig' a show.. how would they get away with The Mole? I mean they hire someone specifically to throw off the various contestants and cost them money and so on.

I too think this is a rumor - I think whoeer was talking to What - may believe it.. but I think it's a publicity stunt.

I know CBS has alot of very high paid lawyers - and go over every possible chance of a suit with a fine tooth comb. I'm not saying they can't sue.. just saying the suit will go nowhere and doubt a judge would put an injunction on this show. An injunction from what I know is to prevent FURTHER damage before a case can go to court. What FURTHER damage could be done by airing the final show? None that I can see.

From all I've heard this year I have NO doubt that BB feeds them info in the way they ask questions "How do you feel about the fact X is ...." type of questions. But I also have no doubt that their lawyers have made sure they can legally do it.

Keep in mind this is not classified as a game show and is not governed by it's rules - just like the Mole wasn't. I have no doubt they'll end up having to make some laws to govern this type show but those laws haven't been written yet. Sooooo

Definately Lisa has some info she can not let out on the net though - and I sorta hope their is a suit then we can find out what it is rather then always having to wonder. LOL.

I do think those who did NOT get a 2nd chance have a legit reason to sue. Those who got a opporunity for a 2nd chance had a unfair advantages - enough so that I feel it'd be legit lawsuit material.

Kellirippa

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Lawsuits could constitute the end of reality TV.
The reality of all reality tv is that it's not all real!

Bbfreak

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:38 am EditMoveDeleteIP
There will be a winner tomorrow, No one is going sue. This is just a rumor. Now granted, they can FILE all they want, But I guarentee they won't win.
As far as Krista's Lawsuit...I can't remember where I read it <Could be the smoking gun, BUT her basis for the lawsuit is that CBS didn't screen the HOUSEGUESTS for proir arrests, if THAT's the case, she wouldn't have been eligible to go in because she had an arrest record herself.>

Marzz

Tuesday, September 24, 2002 - 08:40 am EditMoveDeleteIP
When Lisa had the internet chat the message got through that "she HAD to win HOH". She mentioned this several times, that it gave her a heads up. It may have innocently been let through, no way to know.