CNN now sued for $1.3 billion - $1 per person in China

A Chinese primary school teacher and a beautician have filed a suit against CNN in New York over remarks they say insulted the Chinese people and are seeking $1.3 billion in compensation -- $1 per person in China, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.

"The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing alleging that Cafferty's remarks earlier this month violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.

Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made "junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food" and added: "They're basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they've been for the last 50 years."

CNN said Cafferty was expressing an opinion about the Chinese government, but the Foreign Ministry demanded an apology and accused the network of trying to drive a wedge between the Chinese people and leadership.

The lawsuits come amid a wave of criticism in China against Western news outlets in the wake of recent unrest in Tibet and disruptions to the Beijing Olympic torch relay abroad.

In New York, Liang Shubing, the beautician, and Li Lilan, a Beijing-based elementary school instructor, claimed Cafferty's words insulted all Chinese people and "intentionally caused mental harm" to the plaintiffs, the Ta Kung Pao newspaper reported on Thursday.

Six lawyers were handling the case for Liang and Li, it said.

"The $1.3 billion averages out to $1 per Chinese person, so it isn't much," the newspaper quoted a lawyer as saying.

Asked if China supported the action against CNN, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu characterized it as "spontaneous activity by Chinese civilians."

"We will wait and see CNN's response," Jiang told a news conference, referring to the Foreign Ministry's request for a full apology.

"We hope CNN will take this seriously, because what CNN said and did has not only hurt China's feelings, but also CNN's own image.""

 LINK

Comment

1. “Goons and thugs” might have been a bit harsh, but he’s not wrong.
   Damn near every product imported from China has shown to be dangerous or deadly.

   — Michael · Apr 24, 10:16 AM · #

2. Fuck China. If 99.9% of Americans werent such mindless fucking sheep, and SINCERELY gave two shits about this country, they’d stop shopping at places like Wal-Mart, who import 99.9% of their CHEAP products from the “goons and thugs” of China. Big YELLOW roll back smiley faces indeed. Sad.

   — lemony · Apr 25, 02:25 AM · #

3. Totally agree. I’m sick and tired of having to repeatedly take my children’s birthday and Christmas gifts away from them after yet another recall for toxic levels of lead. And don’t even get me started on Walmart. What a bunch of crooks!

   — Janelle · Apr 25, 09:43 AM · #

4. Like any other things in life – one gets what one paid for. There are class A products and there are class B and C products in China. The problem lies in that dealers (names ??) pay the price of Class C products in China, then try to sell them at premium price of Class A products in the U.S. and pocket the maximum difference. This is bound to create problems. If dealers had paid the price of qulaity products in the first place, there would have been much less problems…

   — Alan · Apr 25, 03:42 PM · #

5. Chinese are being shamed for their atrocities in Tibet. They want it both ways, to repress and terrorize Tibetans, and have everyone else shut up about it while they are bloodying their hands. China is just a bunch of idiots. They’re not getting a dime for having their weak feelings hurt. Grow up chinks.

   — rico · Apr 27, 10:12 AM · #

6. And the Lawyers get 75 cents for each dollar.
   and postage and handling for the refund comes to 26 ¢ … so China owes us a penny per person.
   :ROFL:

   — Chuckie · Jun 28, 06:35 AM · #

7. Are those Chinese saying that they are only worth a dollar per human being? Talk about low self-esteem. My dog is worth more than that. Hell, my balls are worth more than that.

   — Dave Jenkins · Jul 3, 04:46 PM · #

Name	Remember
Website
Message	Textile Help