NBCUniversal files motion for dismissal of Nick Sandmann defamation lawsuit

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One of three lawsuits against national news media filed by lawyers for then-Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann has been dismissed by Eastern District Federal Judge William O. Bertelsman.

Bertelsman heard oral arguments in Covington earlier this month in the $250 million lawsuit against the Washington Post.

Nick and his attorneys, Todd McMurtry and L. Lin Wood, alleged that the gist of The Washington Post’s first article conveyed that Nick had assaulted or physically intimidated Nathan Phillips, engaged in racist conduct, and engaged in taunts.

But, Bertelsman wrote, “this is not supported by the plain language in the article, which states none of these things.”

Bertelsman accepted Nick’s assertion that he was only standing motionless across from Phillips, without ill intent.

But the Eastern District of Kentucky judge ruled that Phillips, who told the media he felt threatened, had a First Amendment right to express his opinion.

The suits stem from the extensive coverage of an incident at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. last January about a confrontation between students from Covington Catholic High School and Native American Nathan Phillips. A video posted of the incident went viral, creating a firestorm of reaction and prompting national media coverage.

In the video, Sandmann is staring at Phillips as Phillips leads a chant with other Native Americans who were participating in the Indigenous Peoples March. The student was vilified on social media for being disrespectful of the elder Philipps.

Sandmann had traveled with Covington Catholic students to D.C. to participate in the March for Life and were sightseeing before leaving to return home.

Sandman and his attorneys, Todd McMurtry and L. Lin Wood, argued that The Post’s first story suggested that Nick had assaulted or physically intimidated Nathan Phillips and engaged in racist taunts.

Judge Bertelsman wrote that “this is not supported by the plain languages in the article, which states none of these things.”

Bertelsman wrote that “As the Court explained at oral argument on this motion, in modern libel law there are many affirmative defenses, even for blames based on defamatory statements. These defenses are calculated to protect defendants, especially the press, from strict liability.

In light of the court throwing out Sandmann’s lawsuit against the Washington Post, now NBCUniversal has filed a motion asking a judge to dismiss a $275 million defamation lawsuit, USA Today reported.

The motion was filed Monday, three days after a similar lawsuit against The Washington Post was dismissed.

“The Court dismissed Sandmann’s claims against the Washington Post for several reasons,” the motion states. “Each one of these legal principles apply to NBCUniversal’s reporting on this incident and this Court should reach the same conclusion here.”

US District Court Judge William Bertelsman is presiding over both cases.