A reader of the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer named Keith Hempstead is suing the newspaper because, he argues, recent staff cuts have made the paper not worth the money he paid when he renewed his subscription. Hempstead, perhaps not surprisingly, is himself a lawyer.
Highlights from the N&O‘s own report:
In a phone interview today, Hempstead, 42, said he could cancel his subscription but filed the suit to make a point. … “I hate to see what companies that run newspapers are doing to the product,” Hempstead said. “The idea that taking the most important product and reducing the amount of news and getting rid of staff to me seems pointless to how you should run a newspaper business.”
“We’ve had some really good papers recently, and they’re worth more than the 36 cents a day that Mr. Hempstead is paying us,” [the N&O's executive editor John] Drescher said.
“In fact, he owes me money,” Drescher continued. “So when he gets a lawyer, he can work with my lawyer and figure out how much he’s going to pay me for the excellent coverage he’s been getting recently.”
As much of a nuisance as Hempstead’s suit may seem, it certainly suggests other plaintiff possibilities. Shall I sue the New York Yankees if I take my family to a game and the team underperforms? I can certainly think of a restaurant or two that deserves my legal attention. And what about all the schools I’ve ever attended, none of which managed to teach me everything I wanted to know?
Since we’re in the suing mood, who would you like to take on?
(Hat tip: Romenesko)
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Related to your Yankees comments, after the Florida Marlins won the World Series and then traded most of their players, a class action was filed on behalf of season ticket holders. I recall some of the arguments were that the media guides’ use of pictures of various players created an expectation that those players would be on the team, which was breached when those players were traded. So suing the Yankess might not be that far of a stretch.
In my opinion, that man should be sanctioned for a frivolous claim – misuse of the judicial system and our government’s resources (i.e., tax dollars). He “said he could cancel his subscription but filed the suit to make a point”? Sounds like an admission to me. I can’t wait for the dismissal order where the judge recommends he be disbarred.
Since when is our court system a venue for soapboxing?
Fox New Channel & the WSJ – for pushing the Republican agenda consistently
MSNBC & NYTimes – for siding with the Democrats consistently
… almost all other media for operating with partisan agenda.
As Kramer(from Seinfeld) once said, “The alternative media, Jerry. That’s where you hear the truth.” It is a shame it takes so much effort to get the truth.
The US government. Hard to limit it to just one reason.
Since when does subscribing to a newspaper include any sort of guarantee that its going to be good?
I recall another Seinfeld episode that applies here. Kramer wanted Jerry to return some bad fruit but Jerry’s stance: “Fruit’s a gamble. I know that going in.”
You stole my Yankees idea so I’ll go with my wife for not doing a certain thing she used to do a lot more before we were married. It was my understanding that this act would be performed as much if not more after she got the ring. On the other hand she has a pretty solid case for a countersuit.
I’m going to sue Wendy’s for hiring the surliest people on this planet to take my order. I love their food, but they seem to beat their employees to get them so mean and hateful.
http://youtube.com/user/clintosterholz