Richard Perle Chickens Out

[CatWoman]

A little over a year ago, as readers of this series know, Richard N. Perle vowed to sue New Yorker staff writer Seymour M. Hersh in England for Hersh's investigative feature, "Lunch With the Chairman." I predicted at the time and in 11 subsequent installments that Perle had no case and for that reason would never sue in England—or Antarctica or Mars, for that matter.

Vindication came at the end of last week when the New York Sun, which reported Perle's original threat, published a short item ("Perle Declines To Sue Journalist Hersh") about Perle's decision not to file. The Sun reported that Perle's lawyers advised him not to sue because "the standard for libel cases required him to prove that Mr. Hersh knowingly used errors and wrong information in his article. …" The piece goes on to quote Perle saying, "Lies and distortions do not constitute libel unless one can demonstrate the errors, lies and distortions are willful."

http://slate.msn.com/id/2097188/

[BiggJawn]

1. didn't want his laundry aired out in open court....

"the standard for libel cases required him to prove that Mr. Hersh knowingly used errors ..."

Can't do that, can ya, Perlie? about all you could do is reinforce Hersh's allegations, but that would then make them FACT, and not Libel, wouldn't it?

How's it feel snuggled up next to that rock, Danny-Boy?

[CaptainClark23]

6. Danny-Boy?

Think you are confusing the Prince of Darkness (Richard Perle) with the slain WSJ journalist (Daniel Pearl).

[BiggJawn]

7. You're right, slip of the fingers.

That should have been "Dicky-Bird"....

[sinkingfeeling]

2. This is just so so sad...Crocodile tears streaming down my face.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. But Perle said he left his job at the Pentagon

so he could focus his attention on these lawsuits that he was going to file. Seems someone gave him some good advice and told him to faggetaboutit.

[CaptainClark23]

4. Standard Procedure

Scream foul, libel, lawsuits from here to eternity. When questioned, defer statement due to ongoing litigation proceedings. After awhile the scent of blood diffuses and the episode is forgotten. Then pay your counsel minimal fees for writing a couple of letters.

The Prince of Darkness never had a goddamned case, because Hersh was all over his shit and had his facts straight. ESPECIALLY his formation of Trireme Partners LLC. I really think The PoD was blindsided by that one, and knocked off balance when Hersh ran with the story.

Hersh's sources have proven to be bonafide, time and again. Glad he's on our side.

[NormanConquest]

5. This is especially surprising

considering that Britain has no free press law, which makes it an ideal venue for defamation suits (Greg Palast was successfully sued by BFEE crime partner Barrick Mining for its Liberia operations).

British libel actually favors plaintiffs, since there's no requirement for proof of actual malice. Loss of reputation itself is considered defamatory, and the burden of proof is on the defendant to prove the published statements are true.

Here's another article from FindLaw on this:

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/mariner/20030317.html

[Spazito]

8. I suspect Perle has his hands full with the investigation of Conrad...

Black and him re Hollinger. I hope they both go down, way down!

[buycitgo]

11. did you know.....the new Vanity Fair has an article on Black's rise/fall?

as well as an article on BBV voting

[Jane Austin]

9. Heh heh

This is sweet!

[UTUSN]

10. Kick n/t