Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton of producing a “defamatory” ad centered on a former patient who was arrested for missing court dates related to unpaid medical debt owed to the Kansas Republican.
In a letter sent to Hamilton, Marshall’s attorneys claimed that the ad released last week by the Kansas Democrat’s campaign contained “false” information and must be taken down.
“We demand that you immediately cease and desist from any further publication, broadcast, distribution, or promotion of the advertisement,” the letter said.
The ad in question features Meischa Zimmerman—a one-time patient of Marshall, a former obstetrician-gynecologist—who was arrested in 2011 after missing a $50 payment.
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Is it defamation if it’s true?
The truth is a 100% defense. It’s only defamation if you KNOWINGLY speak a false statement that is harmful to the reputation. Add to it that public figures have a higher threshold than members of the public to prove defamation.
Literally it’s not, but practically it sometimes is, if you don’t have the money for representation or time to take off work to fight it. This guy is obviously used to using his money to bully people. I’m assuming it’s not going to work in his favor this time.
Looks like Kansas has a strong anti-SLAPP law, so hopefully she’ll be able to get that dismissed pretty quickly.
This is America…it’s defamation if the person calling it defamation has more money. Otherwise it’s just sparkling parody.
According to the Times’ reporting, at least 81 one-time Marshall patients have been arrested for missing court dates stemming from their unpaid medical bills, with one patient taken into custody owing just $114.
The Times investigation also found that Marshall or his office sued more than 700 patients for unpaid bills throughout his two-decade career.
Oh well, I guess they’ll have to make an advert about one of the other hundreds of people he did this to then. Not that it will sway Republican voters, for whom callousness is a feature.
Time for someone to learn about the Streisand effect…
Let it go trail and we get discovery they will drop the lawsuit. He is scum and should be buried under a prison.
Fuck this guy, but I’m down to get rid of official attack ads in general.
Of course I despise advertisements of all varieties, but political attack ads are a special type of unwelcome assault on our collective mental health.
this isn’t the usual ‘attack’ ad though… which is why the magat is so riled-up. it’s based on facts, including verifiable and indisputable public records kinds of facts, that he can’t make up some bullshit to counter.
And, hot take, you should be able to attack trash people running for office. That everyone has a different opinion on what a trash person is is the inherent flaw of democracy.
I also hate attack ads, but probably mostly because they are all sensationalized and half truths. If someone brings receipts, I don’t care as much, but I absolutely hate all political ads, positive or negative. I can’t wait until after the midterms are done.
