Donald Trump is shot down in defamation suit
When veteran New York Times editor Timothy L. O'Brien had the nerve to write a book, TrumpNation, arguing, based on meticulous research, that Donald Trump's net worth was a lot lower than he claims it is, the Donald threw a predictable hissy fit.Being the litigious creep that he is, Trump sued O'Brien for defamation, but that lawsuit was tossed out by Camden County superior court judge Michele Fox yesterday. In a statement, the author said, "I am deeply gratified that the court's decision has vindicated the reporting in TrumpNation." In a separate statement, publisher Hachette said that "We are gratified that the court has granted summary judgment dismissing Mr. Trump's meritless libel lawsuit."
As for Mr. Turmp, he's as defiant as ever, and says he'll appeal the decision. "It tells you how unfair the libel laws are," he told [subscription] The Wall Street Journal. "We proved our case."
That raises an interesting question: If the problem is that the libel laws are unfair, why are you appealing? Will a higher court change the laws?
This case has been fun to watch for a number of reasons -- partly because it's coincided with a number of lawsuits against Mr. Trump and the bankruptcy of Trump Entertainment Resorts. The best part though, by far, came when Trump explained during a deposition that his net worth fluctuates based on his feelings and that he included the value of his "brand" in calculating his net worth.
Bad new for Mr. Trump: that brand appears to be in decline. Trump's latest insipid volume -- Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education In Business and Life -- landed with a plink and currently sports an Amazon sales ranking of 24,406, which doesn't exactly suggest tremendous brand value.
D-Day for Harry Reid: Can he wrangle 60 votes for Senate health reform bill?
Fed stalls on Chinese bank deal, costs taxpayers $1.7 billion
Dell in a handbasket: Should founder Michael Dell resign?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-16-2009 @ 5:02PM
sgentilejr said...
Mr. Trump has a HUGE amount of debt which places his net worth into negative territory. Trump once said in a news report while walking down a NYC street to a reporter (it is on film Don) that the guy sitting with the tin cup panhandling has more money in that cup than he does because he has $3 billion of debt. Those are the Donald's words not mine. Just a note of interest: It is said that Donald Trumps father gave him $50 million to get him started in business decades ago. The Donald managed to turn $50 million of his father's hard earned cash into $3 billion of debts.
Reply
7-19-2009 @ 6:59AM
mabel Eads said...
I guess, Donald Trump is no different than Bill O' Riley in the way they talk. The sort of brashness and boldness they both have to speak what's on thier minds is I guess good for thier business. It keeps people interested in what they are going to do or say next. That always keeps them in the news. I don't know if people hate them or love them. They certainly can't say, "the public don't understand them". Anyway they are not about to let the public forget them, especially Donald Trump.
Reply
7-19-2009 @ 11:38AM
dulko767 said...
50 million to get started ? That must mean that we are all doomed because most are not starting with anywhere near that.
Reply
7-19-2009 @ 8:30PM
Jesse said...
Donald Trump, like many who "own" real estate, he's in debt up to his eyeballs and now that real estate has taken a huge hit, followed by losses in commercial real estate, followed by massive losses in the casino industry, I'd guess Donald should look into the mirror and tell himself "You're FIRED!!
Reply
7-20-2009 @ 1:41AM
Dottie654 said...
I can't stand Donald Trump. He is so full of s**t and such a pathological liar, he can't keep track of what stories he tells.
Perhaps if he stopped suing every person who argued whether it was raining or sunshine, he might be worth a few more millions ...... if his golddigger wife doesn't spend it faster than he can count it!!!!
Reply