Well I guess this isn't too unpredictable but what makes this truly interesting is the language in Don Imus' contract. Here's excerpts from a CNN article:
First of all, If I were in the radio business i'd love to find the guy who negotiated that contract for Imus because it's almost bullet proof. Imus has hired one of the top lawyers in America for this and while he hasn't filed suit yet it's pretty clear there's going to be a big settlement.
Imus had $40 million remaining on a multiyear contact that began in 2006 and included a clause that CBS wanted him to be "irreverent" and "controversial," according to CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin, who was shown part of the contract.
"Company (CBS Radio) acknowledges that Artist's (Imus') services to be rendered hereunder are of a unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial and personal character and that programs of the same general type and nature containing these components are desired by Company and are consistent with Company rules and policies."
Toobin said the legal issues in the Imus case are simple: "Did Imus breach his contract by saying what he did about the Rutgers basketball team?".....
"What stands out in the contract is he is supposed to be controversial and irreverent. That's what his statement about the Rutgers basketball team was," Toobin said.
"How is CBS going to argue that what he said was so controversial and so offensive that it isn't what they asked for in the contract?"
The contract does provide that CBS Radio may terminate the agreement for "just cause."
According to the document, this includes "on-air mention whatsoever by Artist (Imus) of company's officers or directors. Such limitation shall not preclude references to members of station management, so long as such references are not overtly inflammatory or malicious."
"Company (CBS Radio) acknowledges that Artist's (Imus') services to be rendered hereunder are of a unique, extraordinary, irreverent, intellectual, topical, controversial and personal character and that programs of the same general type and nature containing these components are desired by Company and are consistent with Company rules and policies."
Toobin said the legal issues in the Imus case are simple: "Did Imus breach his contract by saying what he did about the Rutgers basketball team?".....
"What stands out in the contract is he is supposed to be controversial and irreverent. That's what his statement about the Rutgers basketball team was," Toobin said.
"How is CBS going to argue that what he said was so controversial and so offensive that it isn't what they asked for in the contract?"
The contract does provide that CBS Radio may terminate the agreement for "just cause."
According to the document, this includes "on-air mention whatsoever by Artist (Imus) of company's officers or directors. Such limitation shall not preclude references to members of station management, so long as such references are not overtly inflammatory or malicious."
Comment