According to an Associated Press story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Michigan Supreme Court has decided not to hear the appeal of a lower court ruling that overturned a jury award of $29.3 million against the Jenny Jones Show due to the murder of a guest.
Most people have probably heard the story of Jonathan Schmitz murdering Scott Amedure only days after Amedure revealed an attraction for Schmitz during a taping for the show. Amedure's family sued the show's owner and distributor and won the case before a jury.
But the state Court of Appeals disagreed and reversed the jury decision. In the ruling, the court said:
The show "may be regarded as the epitome of bad taste and sensationalism" . . . but that wasn't enough to hold it liable for Amedure's death. It said the show had no way of predicting Schmitz's actions.[boldface by ed.]
And the Michigan Supreme Court has concurred.
It's of interest to me that the highest levels of the judiciary of the State of Michigan have ruled that some television programming is the epitome of bad taste and sensationalism. A valid legal opinion with no consequence. Since this is the United States, no laws were broken.
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