The need for therapy, caused by the emotional distress of being partially blamed for a best friend's death in a television show, is at the root of a personal injury lawsuit though the true culprits have since been convicted, as reported by the Courthouse News Service.
Plaintiff A.B., also injured in the letter bomb that killed his friend in February 2000, is suing the show that depicted M.T. opening the letter and A.B. persuading him to do it.
The suit, filed in Federal Court, names Discovery Communications as the defendant.
Discovery's ID channel, according to A.B., produced the show that depicted the two friends before and during the explosion, on a program they had titled, "Lust for Life."
During a dinner the two friends discussed the problems that M.T. was having with his wife due to her extramarital affair, problems he had with identity theft and finally, "a strange package he had received in the mail."
The suit states, "Mr. (M.T.) speculated that the package may contain a VCR box. The gentlemen thus surmised…that the package may further contain a sex tape in a VCR showing Mr. (M.T.'s) wife involved in a sex act with the man with whom she may have been having an affair."
The suit continued, "When the gentlemen arrived at Mr. (M.T.'S) ... house…Mr. (M.T.) pointed to the box…and asked plaintiff to open the box for him. As the package contained an outer box and an inner box, plaintiff began inspecting the outer box…As plaintiff was delaying opening the package further, Mr. (M.T.) …said, 'you still have not opened it?!' and…started to open the packaging. Immediately as Mr. (M.T.) started to open the inner box, there was a major explosion, which it was later determined to have been caused by a pipe bomb. Consequently, Mr. (M.T.) was killed and plaintiff was severely injured, both physically and emotionally."
In 2003 M.T.'s estranged wife, L.T., and her boyfriend, S.L., were convicted of conspiracy to kill M.T.
In June of 2012 the Discovery ID episode was aired. The suit described the show as, "a re-enacted scene, with actors, that purported to describe the real life event of the pipe bomb explosion that occurred…referencing plaintiff by name and referring to him as the deceased's 'best friend'"
A.B. claims that representatives from Discovery Communications never requested his permission for use of his name or image.
The suit further states, "…the re-enactment portrays plaintiff as having encouraged Mr. (M.T.) to open the package, while portraying the deceased as having been reluctant to open the package. This misrepresentation has placed plaintiff in the light of having been the direct impetus behind his best friend's death."
The show has caused plaintiff severe emotional distress and he has since sought therapy for his injuries. Punitive damages are sought for misappropriation of right of publicity, defamation and emotional distress. Additionally, A.B. wants Discovery to halt any further broadcasting of the show.
Personal injuries can occur in a variety of circumstances. If you have suffered emotional distress or physical harm due to someone else's actions, contact a personal injury lawyer to file your lawsuit!