Following a January 7 settlement with CNN, a February 24 court filing revealed that Covington Catholic High School student Nicholas Sandmann and his legal team intend to keep up the fight against the liberal media that tried to ruin his life in January 2019 after he was harangued by Native American activist Nathan Phillips.
Sandmann and his team have until March 9 to finish filing suit against ABC, CBS, Gannett (a newspaper chain with USA Today as its flagship outlet), The New York Times, and the fact-deprived Rolling Stone.
Here’s more from the Fox affiliate in the Cincinnati TV market, WXIX-TV, which first had the story (click “expand”):
“All of the future defendants listed above have published or republished statements made by Nathan Phillips and others that Nicholas blocked or otherwise restricted Phillips’ free movement and would not allow Phillips to retreat at the National Mall on January 18, 2019. Nicholas reserves his right to file complaints in this is Court or any other court against any other potential defendant not listed above, subject to the applicable statute of limitations,” the report reads.
Sandmann previously filed lawsuits against CNN, Washington Post and NBC Universal. He sought $800 million.
CNN reportedly agreed to a settlement in that suit in January, though the settlement’s dollar figure was not disclosed.
Just like when he settled with CNN, the broadcast networks have ignored this new rumbling as the flagship morning shows on ABC, CBS, and NBC have all stayed away from reminding viewers of their despicable behavior.
In contrast, FNC’s Fox & Friends had a 25-second news brief (plus a tease). Newsreader Jillian Mele stated:
The high schooler in this viral confrontation filing new complaints. Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann says he was smeared for this 2019 video with critics accusing him of harassing this native American activist. It was later revealed he did nothing wrong. So now, he’s suing ABC, CBS, Gannett, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. He has already sued The Washington Post and NBC. He settled with CNN in January.
Further, FNC’s early morning program Fox & Friends First covered it not once, but twice for a total of 65 seconds there (plus two teases) over two briefs from Heather Childers and co-host Rob Schmitt.
Schmitt quipped in his brief at 5:40 a.m. Eastern about how the liberal media “all got this story wrong” (and thus they could end up literally paying for it) and Sandmann has maintained that “he was smeared for [his confrontation with Nathan Phillips] and is now suing ABC, CBS, Gannett, The New York Times, also Rolling Stone.”
To see the relevant FNC transcripts from March 2, click “expand.”
FNC’s Fox & Friends First
March 2, 2020
4:40 a.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Fox & Friends First; Media Lawsuits]
HEATHER CHILDERS: And the Covington high school student smeared by the mainstream media over a video is expanding a legal battle. The networks he's taking aim at right now.
(....)
4:44 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sandmann Strikes Back; Student in Viral Video Sues Five Media Companies]
CHILDERS: Well, the Covington Catholic high schooler who went viral over a controversy during the March for Life rally is filing some new lawsuits. [NATHAN PHILLIPS CHANTING] Nicholas Sandmann claiming he was smeared for this moment and is now suing ABC, CBS, Gannett, The New York Times, and Rolling Stones [sic]. He already sued The Washington Post and NBC and settled with CNN in January.
(....)
5:19 a.m. Eastern [TEASE]
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Fox & Friends First; Media Lawsuits]
JILLIAN MELE: The Covington High School student smeared by the mainstream media over this video is now expanding a legal battle. The network he's taking aim at right now.
(....)
5:40 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Sandmann Strikes Back; Student in Viral Video Sues Five Media Companies]
ROB SCHMITT: The Covington Catholic high schooler who went viral after a controversy during the March for Life rally is filing new lawsuits. [PHILLIPS CHANTING] And they all got this story wrong. Nicholas Sandmann is claiming he was smeared for this moment and is now suing ABC, CBS, Gannett, The New York Times, also Rolling Stone. He already sued The Washington Post and NBC and settled with CNN in January. We’ll keep you posted.
—
FNC’s Fox & Friends
March 2, 2020
6:15 a.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Coming Up on Fox & Friends; Covington Case Ramps Up]
AINSLEY EARHARDT: Still ahead, the legal battle rages on between a Covington Catholic teenager and the media accusing him of sme — accused of smearing him. The networks that he’s suing now.
(....)
6:46 a.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Student in Viral Video Sues 5 Media Companies]
JILLIAN MELE: The high schooler in this viral confrontation filing new complaints. Covington Catholic student Nicholas Sandmann says he was smeared for this 2019 video with critics accusing him of harassing this native American activist. It was later revealed he did nothing wrong. So now, he’s suing ABC, CBS, Gannett, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone. He has already sued The Washington Post and NBC. He settled with CNN in January.
