04.22.09 ALI G SAVED BY OUTSOURCING
A libel lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen was thrown out this week in a high-profile victory for Indian lawyers.
Seems a woman who once knew the comedian claimed that Cohen [on HBO’s Da Ali G Show] libeled her by name during a spoof interview with historian Gore Vidal by claiming to have had sex with her [see 1:35 of the video]. I’m told this was the first high profile U.S. media litigation in which the legal research and first drafts of the motion papers for the defense were completed entirely off-shore by Indian attorneys at a legal outsourcing company.
Today’s LA Superior Court victory on the Ali G motion threw out the lawsuit. “No reasonable person could consider the statements made by Ali G on the program to be factual. To the contrary, it is obvious that the Ali G character is absurd, and all his statements are gibberish and intended as comedy. [...] No reasonable person could think otherwise.” [DeadlineHollywood]
Most of these stupid lawsuits are ridiculous (first of all, dumbass, no one would’ve known he was talking about you unless YOU told people) and have no chance of winning. They go forward mostly as a way to blackmail someone into paying a settlement to avoid possibly even higher legal fees. So if we can get brown people to fight these battles for us for less money, why shouldn’t we? It’s the American way. Plus, I imagine their closing arguments involve some spirited song and dance. …What? Oh sure, now I’m the racist one…
Only barely related, but awesome nonetheless – Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer:
![[image]](http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2009/12/AbuAymanaita-150x150.jpg)
![[image]](http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2009/08/steph-meyer-jordan-scott-150x150.jpg)
There are 11 comments about:
ALI G SAVED BY OUTSOURCING
The law firm of Duey, Sellourdaughters and Howe.
So it’s ok for me to tell everyone i banged Gong Li?
Bang the Gong, get in on, case dismissed.
To be fair, the case was thrown out because no one in the courtroom could take the curry smell coming from the documents.
Plus, if it ever did make it to trial, they’d be able to curry favor with the jury.
But I like your angle too, Stoney.
“Your honor, we’d like to request a recess because our legal team is currently with other customers, but our call is very important to them.”
I would have guessed the Australians are more experienced in “legal outsourcing”.
I’ve always used the firm of Duey, Scalpem and How. Oops! Wrong Indians.
Did the Indian firm go by Patel, Patel, Patel, Patel & Patel?
Gore Vidal should be on tv a great deal more. He gives good oral, and he’s gonna die soon so tv execs should make the most of him whilst he’s here.
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