WaPo: Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit (Haditha)

[Eugene]

Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit
Congressman Discussed Killings Involving Serviceman's Squad in Haditha, Iraq

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Page A05

A Marine Corps staff sergeant who led the squad accused of killing two dozen civilians
in Haditha, Iraq, will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington claiming
that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public
comments about the incident earlier this year.

Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the
Marine's reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked
after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops "killed innocent
civilians in cold blood." Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.

Murtha argued that the questionable deaths of 24 civilians were indicative of the
difficulties and overpowering stress that U.S. troops are facing. The congressman,
a former Marine, has been a leading advocate for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

In the court filing, obtained by The Washington Post, the lawyers say that Murtha made
the comments after being briefed by Defense Department officials who "deliberately
provided him with inaccurate and false information." Neal A. Puckett and Mark S. Zaid,
suing for libel and invasion of privacy, also wrote that Murtha made the comments outside
of his official scope as a congressman.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/01/AR2006080101345.html

[kevinbgoode]

1. Hmm...this is going to be interesting. And you can bet these

are little gung-ho wingnuts, too. Has the investigation over those deaths been closed and these Marines absolved of any wrongdoing?

[saigon68]

2. Lawsuit probably paid by the "SLEEZE-BOATERS"

[IndianaGreen]

7. No doubt that they are behind this frivolous lawsuit

It will be interesting to see if Wuterich ends up being charged by the military.

This lawsuit will last until the November elections. It isn't going anywhere! I can't imagine Wuterich having to subject himself to discovery by Murtha's lawyers and put himself in jeopardy in the criminal case.

[Gman]

11. He'll look pretty silly taking the 5th in his own lawsuit

Don't know if they even intend to go to trial rather than just draw this out for the next 3 months.

[saigon68]

23. Yes that would be some deposition wouldn't it

QUESTION: How many times did you shoot the Child in the Head?

ANSWER: I decline to answer that question on the grounds that my answer might tend to incriminate me.

QUESTION: Could you repeat that please.

MR. ATTORNEY: We object, my client is taking five.




lol

[saigon68]

22. Right On

[Penndems]

15. EXACTLY.

Where's there's smoke, there's fire, and this one has "Swift Boat" written all over it.

Wonder if this guy's gonna be at the Swift Boat rally in Johnstown, Pennsylvania tomorrow?

[saigon68]

32. Those Fuckers are sliding in on their slime -- LIKE SNAILS

Oops my apology to snails for associating them with ass-wipes like these.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

30. I agree

[shadowknows69]

3. Yeah, good luck with that frank

n/t

[xchrom]

4. this is very interesting...

''In the court filing, obtained by The Washington Post, the lawyers say that Murtha made
the comments after being briefed by Defense Department officials who "deliberately
provided him with inaccurate and false information." Neal A. Puckett and Mark S. Zaid,
suing for libel and invasion of privacy, also wrote that Murtha made the comments outside
of his official scope as a congressman.''

sounds like a trap -- no?

[tabasco]

5. LMAO. Frivolous lawsuit.

Suffice it to say, Colonel Murtha is sleeping well at night.

I'm not so sure about the stupid fucking NCO.

Murtha was telling the truth.

[atreides1]

21. Don't call him an NCO

NCO's are leaders, this man is a "sarge".

Definition of "sarge":
A slimy substance found at the bottom of the ocean, that's lower then whale excrement.

At least that's what my old First Shirt used to tell us!

[tabasco]

33. You are absolutely correct.

My apologies to all NCO's everywhere. :patriot:

[w4rma]

6. That will get tossed. (nt)

[ClintonTyree]

8. Did Murtha single out anyone or name names?

Or is the blanket, "Marine Squad", enough to carry a defamation suit? Methinks the Squad leader doth protest too much. :eyes:

[IndianaGreen]

10. No more than David Brock "named" Paula Jones in a Clinton article

if we are going to talk of lawsuits bought and paid for the rightwing.

[bronxiteforever]

9. The sleeze boaters are going to pennsylvania

John O'Neil is a lawyer from "surprise" Texas who is their front man. They are planning on a rally against Murtha in Johnstown. Also O'Neil gave a cash donation to little Ricky in his bid to retain his right to run people's private lies as our Senator.
Their crap isn't going to fly here-Murtha is a good man and his record for the troops is clear. All O'Neil and his malice driven minions have to sell is hate and lies-The Commonwealth has lost many soldiers in this war and they didn't come from the families of rich texas lawyers.
Thank you Congressman Murtha for standing up to the hate machine!!!

[Penndems]

16. Something not widely know outside of political circles:

One of the people most responsible for the "swift-boating" of Senator John Kerry is a guy by the name of Chris LaCivita. He worked hand-in-hand with O'Neill to smear Kerry. Mr. LaCivita is currently working on Senator George Allen's re-election campaign here in Virginia.

Now, Chris likes to paint himself as a Virginian, but take a guess as to where he's really from.

Yep, you got it: Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Born and raised in Cambria County.

A coincidence that the Swift Boaters are zeroing in on Representative Jack Murtha? I think not!

[kskiska]

17. Didn't O'Neil say the Swiftboaters were just against Kerry?

And that their efforts were not partisan?

[Penndems]

18. He lied

Now that John's gotten a taste of power, he's not gonna let go that easily.

O'Neill is a Nixon Republican, recruited by the Nixon White House some thirty-four years ago to debate John Kerry. Highly unlikely he's "non-partisan".

[blm]

27. The Nixon tapes proved O'Neil was recuited by the WH and LIED about it

claiming for years that he never coordinated with them. Too bad those Nixon tapes were released - and too bad for this country that they have a news media that helped O'Neil by not giving much coverage of those tapes and his lies.

[yellowcanine]

20. The swift boaters will find out that the courts will be less forgiving

than the news media about their wild claims.

[depakid]

12. The greater the truth, the greater the libel....

Sounds to me like this guy is asking for even more trouble.

[jpkenny]

13. Good, i hope they spend a lot of money . This will go nowhere.

[Hav]

14. .

Does this Wuterich have a German background?
If yes, Wuterich or Wüterich would be a very fitting name. Funny, that could be a satire. You just can't make up stuff like this.

[yellowcanine]

19. Truth is a defense against libel. There are two claims here by Murtha -

1)That the marines in question killed civilians. That part is most definately true, as at least some of the dead were young children and it is likely that the adults were noncombatants as well.

2)That they were killed "in cold blood". This is a somewhat subjective term so it will come down to whether or not the jury or the judge thinks a reasonable person would conclude that this was close enough to being true that it would not be libel. One is hard put to argue that shooting down a group of young children is not "in cold blood", if it can be established that this is what happened. If Murtha was told that this is what happened by a qualified military spokesperson there is no way you could call it libel even if the account was in error. On this point it is likely the case will be thrown out.

[Catchawave]

29. Isn't Paul Hackett defending one of these guys?

As I recall, Hackett also started the Murtha smear rolling on national t.v. ?

[warrens]

24. Discovery's a bitch

If this guy thinks his reputation is in the toilet now, just wait til the entire record is scrutinized by Murtha's lawyers. He'll wish he had never heard the name Swiftboat.

[Rose Siding]

25. The press would never have covered Haditha if it weren't for Murtha

The first magazine article had no traction. Until Murtha commented on its severity, the country was unaware.

I hope this suit is tossed with sanctions. If it isn't, I can't imagine the chilling effect on an opposition party. McDermott is STILL fighting his court battle.

[Julius Civitatus]

26. Ahem.... "MSNBC: Haditha evidence implicates Marines"

MSNBC: Haditha evidence implicates Marines

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14150687

Good luck with that frivolous lawsuit.

[MiniMe]

31. Perhaps they should have checked on that before they sued.

Ya think?

[anotherdrew]

28. marine Frank D. Wuterich can go to hell, you fucking murdering pig

how's that for defamation?