Re: Peter May On The Mercer Trial

[Sherry & Hart <hartleyo@ix.netcom.com>]

j.hironaka@unesco.org wrote:


> --------
> 
> Hi, can someone define which of the "woman's civil rights" were affected by
> Mercer and Billups alleged rape, as reported in the lead sentence? I wish the
> reporter would answer the ambiguities he raises in his article. It's a first
> rule of journalism.
> 
> According to May's article, a woman charges "she was taken to a bedroom and
> RAPED (my emphasis)" by the men yet "no criminal charges are pending". Huh?
> 
> Even without the potential winning lawsuit or settlement, I believe life can
> be far worse than what this young lady may have gone through (being cornered
> by tall, athletic celebrities in a presumably fancy home). I hope it is
> v.clear BTW that I'm distinguishing these charges from the actual charge of
> rape, which (duh) is the most violent act short of murder and mutilation and
> one of the best reasons for men to want to avoid spending ANY length of time
> in a prison.
> 
> The point of my post is to ask how this case won merit as a "civil rights
> violation". There must be something in civil rights law to aid her, or else
> the judge would have thrown the case out. For example, would it be relevant if
> she were a member of a minority group (like WASP students at MIT and Harvard)?
> Silly me, I wish for once I actually followed the OJ Simpson civil suit. None
> of this makes sense to me. I don't understand the Tony Battie situation
> either.
> 
> In practice, are civil rights suits just a legal way to bring shame and
> embarrassment etc. to people, whether or not it holds any merit as an actual
> civil rights violation? Or did Peter May make an error in describing the
> lawsuit as a "civil rights" case? I know there are lawyers and judges on this
> list.

When the case is thrown out, I hope they name the Woman, so her
reputation can also be sullied. This article was written like they are
guilty until proven innocent. No wonder the media today is held in such
low esteem by the masses.

Hart