zzzz
Just a regular American
Interesting suit that could further erode an individuals ability to say what they want in public. I suppose it could even be argued that if you were talking to a friend or your spouse in public about someone being gay or fat and someone overheard you, it could be libel. Crazy.
Small-town cafe banter becomes lawsuit
Bennie Dale Morris used to be a regular at Frank's Place — eating meals and drinking coffee several times a day at the smoke-filled cafe — until the restaurant owner's joking around got a little too personal.
In fact, Morris and longtime restaurant owner Phong Van Meter, who used to be friends, are now in a classic he-said, she-said legal standoff with First Amendment implications that may wind up before the Texas Supreme Court. At issue is whether her loud jokes in front of customers, in which she is accused of implying that Morris is gay — a suggestion that he and his friend vehemently deny — went too far.
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"If the verdict is allowed to stand, it will have the most profound and dramatic effect on conversations and free speech," Maples wrote in his brief to the Supreme Court. "It will make joking remarks, hasty words made in anger, and mischievous statements an actionable tort and turn every barbershop, tavern and small town restaurant into litigation centers."
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Small-town cafe banter becomes lawsuit