Filmmaker Michael Moore is being sued by an armless Iraqi war veteran who says Moore's controversial movie, "Fahrenheit 9/11," used clips without his permission that misrepresented the veteran and his sentiments about the war.
The suit, which claims "defamation and infliction of emotional distress," also names film executives, distributors and the NBC television network, which shot the original footage Moore used in his film. The suit seeks $175 million in damages
1 comment:
Sgt. Peter Damon filed the suit May 25 in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, Massachusetts. The movie premiered in New York and Los Angeles, California, in June 2004.
While stationed in Iraq, the National Guardsman lost both arms when a tire exploded on a Blackhawk helicopter he was servicing, according to the court filing.
While he was being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., he was asked to do an interview with Brian Williams of "NBC Nightly News."
The footage was subsequently licensed to Moore's film, which the complaint states "denounces the United States military action in Iraq" by attacking President Bush.
In the movie, Damon is shown on a hospital stretcher saying he feels like he is "being crushed in a vice."
The clip of Damon taken from the NBC interview is shown just after U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Washington, speaks out against the Bush administration.
"You know, they say they're not leaving any veterans behind, but they're leaving all kinds of veterans behind," McDermott says in the movie.
In the suit, Damon says the placement of the footage makes it appear as if he is anti-war.
"I don't regret going to Iraq at all. I am very proud of my service," Damon told the Boston television station, WFXT.
Moore could not be reached for comment; NBC refused to comment.
"This suit is about a soldier who believes in America's mission in Iraq, and there's a tape recording of him out there published by a moviemaker who doesn't believe in what we're doing there," said attorney David Lynch, who represents Damon.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages of $25 million, punitive damages of $75 million and additional damages of $75 million.
Post a Comment