1. Netflix defamation lawsuit settlement
2. Central Park Five prosecutor defamation settlement.
Accident – Death – Obituary News : Netflix has reached a settlement in a defamation lawsuit brought by former Manhattan sex crimes prosecutor Linda Fairstein over her portrayal in the 2019 crime series “When They See Us.” The settlement was announced on Tuesday, just days before the trial was set to begin in Manhattan federal court.
In the series, directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Attica Locke, the story of the Central Park Five case is dramatized. The series follows the story of five Black and Hispanic teenagers who were wrongfully convicted in the 1989 rape of a white jogger in Central Park. Fairstein, who ran the Manhattan District Attorney’s office sex crimes unit at the time of the attack, alleged that the series portrayed her in a defamatory light, suggesting that she withheld evidence, coerced confessions, and ordered a mass police roundup of young Black men.
The settlement stipulates that Fairstein will receive no money, but Netflix will donate $1 million to the Innocence Project, a nonprofit organization that works to free wrongfully convicted individuals. Fairstein expressed her satisfaction with the contribution to the Innocence Project and stated that receiving money for herself was not a concern.
As part of the settlement, a disclaimer will be added to the start of episodes of the series, indicating that some characters and events may have been altered for dramatic purposes. Fairstein emphasized that the goal of the settlement was to set the historical record straight and clarify that the portrayal of her in the series was not reflective of her true character.
Netflix, along with DuVernay and Locke, who were also named as defendants in the lawsuit, confirmed the settlement in a joint statement. U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel had previously ruled that the lawsuit could proceed, finding evidence that the portrayal of Fairstein in the series was a deliberate misrepresentation of her character.
The defendants had argued that the portrayal was protected by the First Amendment and that Fairstein’s lawsuit threatened filmmakers’ ability to depict controversial real-life events. The settlement brings an end to the legal battle between Fairstein and Netflix, allowing both parties to move forward.
In a statement following the settlement, Fairstein expressed her gratitude for the contribution to the Innocence Project and reiterated her commitment to setting the record straight. The addition of the disclaimer to the series will provide clarity for viewers and help prevent future misunderstandings about the events depicted in the show..
1. Netflix Central Park Five prosecutor defamation lawsuit
2. Netflix Central Park Five prosecutor settlement lawsuit.
