Full Version: Another stupid lawsuit
QUOTE
Man says he’s addicted to cable; wants to sue Charter
Cable TV made a West Bend man addicted to TV, caused his wife to be overweight and his kids to be lazy, he says.
And he’s threatening to sue the cable company.
Timothy Dumouchel of West Bend wants $5,000 or three computers, and a lifetime supply of free Internet service from Charter Communications to settle what he says will be a small claims suit.
Dumouchel blames Charter for his TV addiction, his wife’s 50-pound weight gain and his children’s being “lazy channel surfers,” according to a Fond du Lac police report.
Cable TV made a West Bend man addicted to TV, caused his wife to be overweight and his kids to be lazy, he says.
And he’s threatening to sue the cable company.
Timothy Dumouchel of West Bend wants $5,000 or three computers, and a lifetime supply of free Internet service from Charter Communications to settle what he says will be a small claims suit.
Dumouchel blames Charter for his TV addiction, his wife’s 50-pound weight gain and his children’s being “lazy channel surfers,” according to a Fond du Lac police report.
http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/news/ar..._14044768.shtml
So does this guy have a legal leg to stand on or not?
Is this yet ANOTHER case of people going sue crazy and being dishonest and not taking responsibility for their lifestyles?
By the way, this was brought to my attention, because I work for Charter Communications!!!
QUOTE(Billy Jean @ Jan 8 2004, 03:20 PM)
QUOTE
Man says he’s addicted to cable; wants to sue Charter
Cable TV made a West Bend man addicted to TV, caused his wife to be overweight and his kids to be lazy, he says.
And he’s threatening to sue the cable company.
Timothy Dumouchel of West Bend wants $5,000 or three computers, and a lifetime supply of free Internet service from Charter Communications to settle what he says will be a small claims suit.
Dumouchel blames Charter for his TV addiction, his wife’s 50-pound weight gain and his children’s being “lazy channel surfers,” according to a Fond du Lac police report.
http://www.wisinfo.com/thereporter/news/ar..._14044768.shtml
So does this guy have a legal leg to stand on or not?
Is this yet ANOTHER case of people going sue crazy and being dishonest and not taking responsibility for their lifestyles?
By the way, this was brought to my attention, because I work for Charter Communications!!!
His legal leg is broken. This is just as bad as the Fast-Food lawsuits
Maybe the best way to illuminate this topic is to try and come up with the best case this guy could present. How could Charter be held responsible for his so-called addiction?
Hmmmm...
....still thinking....
ummm...
Well good thing for him I'm not his lawyer I guess.
At least that guy who sued McDonalds could claim he was too stupid to realize fast food would make him fat. This guy's got nothing I can see to support his claim.
Hmmmm...
....still thinking....
ummm...
Well good thing for him I'm not his lawyer I guess.
At least that guy who sued McDonalds could claim he was too stupid to realize fast food would make him fat. This guy's got nothing I can see to support his claim.
QUOTE(GoAmerica @ Jan 8 2004, 09:28 PM)
His legal leg is broken.
I hope you’re an attorney or judge and know this for a fact. I’d be awfully disappointed if this even made it into the court room.
And yes this is yet another instance where an individual is blaming some one else for the choices made in their lifestyle.
I feel sorry for his kids and the message this sends them.
Let's try and start with some facts, shall we?
First and most importantly, no lawsuit has been filed per the Fond Du Lac Reporter and the fact that there is no copy of any Complaint on The Smoking Gun (if anyone were to carry a copy of such a bizarre lawsuit, surely it would be them!). The Wisconsin paper states:
Ok, so much for it being a 'Big Trial or Legal Case.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's not a suit but if it were...
The article states the potential plaintiff claimed, "his cable connection remained intact four years after he tried to get it canceled." If this is true, and he can prove it, perhaps Charter has contributed to a very minute percentage of the problem. The fact that he didn't just cut the wires to his house speaks volumes of his own intelligence. <shrug>
Of course, Charter did not do themselves any favors by releasing this statement today:
While it may be fun for their PR people to publicly mock this person, the mere suggestion that "Cable television can be a very moving experience" might be used against them by a clever enough lawyer. Charter should have ignored this dude. He's wacky enough on his own. The Court would be able to see this for what it really is.
I think the concept of addiction to TV is probably food for another thread. I would submit that the concept is not entirely unbelievable, but definitely not the cable provider's fault and even more - not a legal issue.
First and most importantly, no lawsuit has been filed per the Fond Du Lac Reporter and the fact that there is no copy of any Complaint on The Smoking Gun (if anyone were to carry a copy of such a bizarre lawsuit, surely it would be them!). The Wisconsin paper states:
QUOTE
Wisconsin Circuit Court records show no civil lawsuit papers filed in Dumouchel’s name.
Ok, so much for it being a 'Big Trial or Legal Case.'
:::::::::::::::::::::::::
It's not a suit but if it were...
The article states the potential plaintiff claimed, "his cable connection remained intact four years after he tried to get it canceled." If this is true, and he can prove it, perhaps Charter has contributed to a very minute percentage of the problem. The fact that he didn't just cut the wires to his house speaks volumes of his own intelligence. <shrug>
Of course, Charter did not do themselves any favors by releasing this statement today:
QUOTE
"Perhaps Mr. Dumouchel needs to take better advantage of programming available on cable today? Charter is a veritable department store of home entertainment, with something on the shelf/in the lineup for everybody. His viewing habits need not be sedentary, rather he can make running miles on a treadmill a cultural experience while watching A&E. Learn about Lewis & Clark's historic trek while on a Stairmaster. Or skip rope to the music of MTV. Cable television can be a very moving experience!" Link
While it may be fun for their PR people to publicly mock this person, the mere suggestion that "Cable television can be a very moving experience" might be used against them by a clever enough lawyer. Charter should have ignored this dude. He's wacky enough on his own. The Court would be able to see this for what it really is.
I think the concept of addiction to TV is probably food for another thread. I would submit that the concept is not entirely unbelievable, but definitely not the cable provider's fault and even more - not a legal issue.
QUOTE
Timothy Dumouchel of West Bend wants $5,000 or three computers, and a lifetime supply of free Internet service from Charter Communications to settle what he says will be a small claims suit.
This particular part gave me a laugh. He claims that an addiction to television caused by Charter caused his wife to be overweight and his kids to be lazy, but he wants an internet connection and three computers for the damages?
Someone who does not have enough discipline to turn off the boob tube is going to experience the same problems with net surfing. 
As Jaime pointed out, nothing has been filed on this, but if he does attempt to sue, it's clear enough to me that the guy is just looking for free stuff...not a lifestyle change.
I really do have to laugh as well and wonder what in the world is going on? How could this man even think for a second that he has a case?
If he was truly "addicted to cable," as he claims, he should
1) Take a look around and see if there are any cases similar to his (which I highly doubt) and
2) Prove exactly how cable made him addicted.
Gods. This shouldn't even be happening, it's so ridiculous. I firmly believe that it is simply just another idiot who can't, as Billy Jean said, take responsibility for his lifestyle.
If he was truly "addicted to cable," as he claims, he should
1) Take a look around and see if there are any cases similar to his (which I highly doubt) and
2) Prove exactly how cable made him addicted.
Gods. This shouldn't even be happening, it's so ridiculous. I firmly believe that it is simply just another idiot who can't, as Billy Jean said, take responsibility for his lifestyle.
This is so stupid. Learn to turn off the Boob tube. As for what he wants for a settlement is totally funny. 3 computers and free internet. Yeah that won't lead to further addiction and should move his fat wife and lazy kids to excercise and eat right. I think he should be sued for being such an idiot!!!
As well as Charter could counter sue for 4 years of free cable if this ever went to court, because just because something is there does not mean you have to take advantage of it. But honestly this is so laughable just like alot of these court cases lately like others have said people not taking responsibility for themselves.
legal leg? Surely this is lacking in more than just legality. Try logic.
As has been said before, he just wants free stuff. He thinks cable television is addictive (I have a very strong opinion here), and yet he wants free INTERNET! What a joke.
I don't see how anyone could get addicted to television anyways.
As has been said before, he just wants free stuff. He thinks cable television is addictive (I have a very strong opinion here), and yet he wants free INTERNET! What a joke.
I don't see how anyone could get addicted to television anyways.
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