Mark Levin makes the point (and gives a nice shout out to my post Dissecting Shirley Sherrod's Complaint Against Andrew Breitbart) :
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So Breitbart will implead them.
ReplyDeleteSherrod cannot make out a defamation, false light, or IIED claim against Obama or anyone else in the administration because it would be nearly impossible to show "actual malice" (the standard everyone seems to agree would apply in this matter) on the part of such defendants.
ReplyDeleteSherrod MAY have a claim of wrongful termination against Obama, Vilsack etc., but if she is an "officer of the United States", my guess is that she may be terminated at any time for whatever reason
Heard this earlier today. Love it when the brilliant Great One reads your blog on his show, and shares his praises! :D
ReplyDeleteThe "Great One" will always be Jackie Gleason. The snarky Levin, being so excessively loathing and disdainful, has really squandered any stature of being able to bestow honor on anyone. Levin is the one who should be honored if a blogger as gifted as Prof. Jacobson were to mention him.
ReplyDeleteSuing federal officers for damages is extremely difficult. The government has placed all sorts of roadblocks. The only direct suit for damages against a federal officer is a so-called Bivens action which is the judicially created equivalent of a 42 USC 1983 action against state and local officials. It applies only to denials of constitutional rights. The Federal Tort Claims Act excludes claims based upon defamation. The only waiver of sovereign immunity for damages I am aware of is the Tucker Act which would not apply.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I enjoy Mark Levin, I think that is really good reason for not naming people when there is no right to sue.