According to Chinadaily, fourteen Chinese lawyers have filed a lawsuit with the Chaoyang Court in Beijing against CNN and commentator Jack Cafferty, charging harm to their reputations from Cafferty’s comments.
The plaintiffs, from Beijing Huanzhong & Partners, a Beijing-based law firm, demanded in the suit filed on Monday that CNN and Cafferty cease what they termed harmful acts, issue a public apology and pay each of them 100 yuan (US$14.30) in compensation for mental distress.
During an appearance on “The Situation Room,” a program that aired on April 9, Cafferty said while speaking about the US trade deficit with China:
“We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we’re buying from Wal-Mart.
“So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed,” he said,”I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”
One of the plaintiffs said, Cafferty’s remarks violated the Chinese Constitution and the General Principles of the Civil Law, which state that human dignity should not be infringed upon.
CNN issued a statement early last week in which it said, in part, that Cafferty had made critical comments about many governments, including the United States.
“On this occasion Jack was offering his strongly held opinion of the Chinese government, not the Chinese people,” said CNN in the statement.
It is not immediately known if or when the court will accept the case.
Cafferty, It’s obvious that you’ve become the far left’s attack dog, as well as the biggest ass hole in America. I guess CNN keeps you aboard (while making sure to disclaim your biased opinions as yours and not theirs) because you’re controversial. And controversy sells newspapers. I just hope your gross misuse of your position results in your pitiful and complete demise.