$20 billion lawsuit accuses Comcast and Al Sharpton of discriminating against black-owned media

[EmperorScorpious]

[quote]A lawsuit against Comcast, Time Warner Cable Inc., Rev. Al Sharpton and the NAACP alleges that the media companies discriminated against black-owned businesses and paid activists like Sharpton to “whitewash” its practices. The complaint alleges that Comcast gave large donations to Sharpton, the NAACP and other civil rights groups to make it appear that the cable company was promoting diversity, even while it was failing to follow through on a promise to do so.

The lawsuit, seeking $20 billion, was filed in Los Angeles federal court Friday by Entertainment Studios, a television company founded by black producer and comedian Byron Allen and the National Association of African-American Owned Media (NAAAOM). The complaint, which comes as regulators mull a $45-billion merger between Comcast and TWC, alleges that Comcast has refused to do business with Allen and other black media executives.

“Comcast has engaged in, and is engaging in, pernicious, intentional racial discrimination in contracting,” it reads. Whether or not it gets anywhere is another question. Anyone can file a lawsuit alleging anything and claiming any amount of money.

Both Sharpton and Comcast dismissed the allegations Monday. In an interview with Variety, Sharpton called the lawsuit a “bogus statement from a person who has no credibility” and he told the Hollywood Reporter that he will be bringing counterclaims for defamation.

The National Action Network also questioned Allen’s credibility in its statement to the Hollywood Reporter.

“We would gladly defend our relationship with any company as well as to state on the record why we found these discriminatory accusations made by said party to be less than credible and beneath the standards that we engage in.”[/quote]

[url]http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/24/lawsuit-accuses-comcast-al-sharpton-of-discriminating-against-black-owned-media/[/url]

[Archangel125]

I... what?

[editline]24th February 2015[/editline]

I'd love to know which lawyer actually thought taking this on would be a good idea.

[patches]

whats with the impossible to afford lawsuits

[ksenior]

[QUOTE=Havolis;47346641]whats with the impossible to afford lawsuits[/QUOTE]

It's like haggling. You have to start low and meet in the middle.

[Razgriz_25th_inf]

Well, thats and that comcast can definitely afford it.

But about the lawsuit itself, i mean, i wouldn't doubt it? Comcast really is a bunch of scumbags, this is right up their alley of bullshit they'd pull.

[mcgrath618]

-snip because off topic-