Linda Mineer v Montel Williams (Browne related)

82 F.Supp.2d 702

Linda Marie MINEER, etc., Plaintiff,
v.
Montel WILLIAMS, et al, Defendants.

No. Civ.A. 99-187.

United States District Court, E.D. Kentucky, at Covington.

February 3, 2000.

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OPINION & ORDER
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This matter is before the court on the motion of defendants to dismiss. Inasmuch as statements at the hearing were considered, the motion will be treated as one for summary judgment as well. FED. R.CIV.P. 12(b). Since the cause of action for invasion of privacy does not survive after death and the requisite elements for intentional infliction of emotional distress are absent, the motion must be granted and the complaint dismissed.

FACTS
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Nearly a year later, on September 24, 1998, the Montel Williams Show — a national talk show — featured the psychic Sylvia Browne. This psychic appeared on the show to use her abilities and powers to assist the show's guests in obtaining information regarding their loved ones who were either dead or missing. Erica Fraysure's mother, Maggie Doherty, was one of the guests. After a video segment regarding the background of Erica's disappearance, the psychic and Ms. Doherty exchanged questions and answers concerning Erica. The psychic identified Erica's murderer as a man who at the time of the show was in prison.1

Thereafter, Ms. Doherty asked if anyone knew any information about the murder. The psychic answered affirmatively. In response to Ms. Doherty's question "What is this person's name?", the psychic said "Chris." Someone involved with the production of the Montel Williams Show made the decision to edit the sound so that the name of "Chris" could not be heard. However, according to plaintiffs anyone watching the show could discern that the name was "Chris" by watching a close-up of the psychic.
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A few months later, in January of 1999, Ms. Browne was again the featured guest of the Montel Williams Show. During the broadcast, Montel Williams and Ms. Browne implied that Chris Mineer was determined to be responsible for the disappearance and presumed death of Erica Fraysure. Montel Williams made the following comments to exemplify the telepathic powers of Ms. Browne:
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JUDGE DROPS SUIT OVER 'MONTEL' SHOW.
From: The Kentucky Post (Covington, KY)
January 15, 2000

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit that claimed syndicated television talk show host Montel Williams invaded the privacy of a man who shot and killed his girlfriend and then committed suicide in 1998.
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Source

SUIT ENDS AGAINST TV SHOW JUDGE RULES AGAINST MOTHER; NO APPEAL.
The Kentucky Post (Covington, KY)
February 21, 2000

The mother of a Brooksville man who committed suicide two years ago has decided not to appeal a judge's ruling that dismissed her lawsuit against talk show host Montel Williams.
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Source

Obviously the outcome had no effect on Williams and Browne. They're still at it. One is as sick and twisted as the other.

I'd never heard this. Am I the only one that hadn't heard the whole sordid story?

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/09/24/loc_around_the.html

Christopher Mineer, 28, shot his fiancee, 24-year-old Carmen Moorhead, , and then himself in his home on Sept. 25, 1998 — the day after the psychic appeared on Mr. Williams' show and said Erica was in water.

Court documents detail that Mr. Williams said in a later episode that the psychic “gave up the name (in the missing person case) ... and the next thing you know, the guy who probably commited the murder to begin with realized "the law is on my tail.' He killed himself and his other girlfriend. That's what the lieutenant told me, too.”

Kentucky State Police Detective Robert Scott, the lead investigator in the missing-person case, has said Mr. Mineer was questioned in Erica's disappearance but that his alibi checked out. Erica is still missing.

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Williams and Saliva are as disgusting as each other.

Yeah, I was shocked when I read the news reports of it.

As low as Montel and Sylv are, this is hands down one of the lowest of about five points in either of their careers.

Disgusting.

And they have absolutely no problem living with themselves, do they? : (

I've said it before, and will probably say it again, they sleep very well on their expensive, high thread count sheets.

If money is your God, then the ends really do justify the means.

PastBrowneFan said:

I've said it before, and will probably say it again, they sleep very well on their expensive, high thread count sheets.

If money is your God, then the ends really do justify the means.

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True. I just got an image, tho, of them sleeping on those expensive, high-thread count sheets together. (Ewww!)
Anyway, you are right. To them the bottom line of their lives is the almighty dollar.

A little more on this:

Mom of dead son sues TV host - Says he was wrongly tied to missing teen
The Kentucky Post - Thursday, September 23, 1999
Author: John C.K. Fisher, Post staff reporter

The mother of a Brooksville man who shot and killed himself last year has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that television talk show host Montel Williams cast her son in an unfavorable light during a program featuring a psychic commenting on a missing Bracken County teen-ager.

Linda Marie Mineer, in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Covington, sued Williams, three producers of his show, Paramount Pictures and Viacom Inc., which produce and distribute the show, and psychic Sylvia Browne, frequent guest on the show.
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The lawsuit said a show that was broadcast on Sept. 24, 1998, featured Ms. Browne, the psychic, who gave Miss Fraysure's mother, Maggie Doherty, information about her daughter's disappearance.

Ms. Doherty later told The Post that Ms. Browne said a man who was in prison last year killed Erica and dumped her body in a lake not far from where Erica's car was found. Ms. Browne also said someone named Chris knew important information.

The police dragged Perry Poe Lake in Bracken County last year, but did not find Miss Fraysure's body.

The lawsuit said Williams referred to Mineer in another show that was broadcast after Mineer killed himself:

"He (Christopher Mineer) murdered his girlfriend and was implicated in that case that Sylvia (Browne ) talked about. So if you want to wonder whether or not this woman (Ms. Browne) is talking fact or fiction, she gave up the name to this family (Ms. Doherty) during the break, and the next thing you know, the guy (Mineer) who probably committed the murder to begin with, realized the law is on my tail. He (Mineer) killed himself and his other girlfriend."

The lawsuit said Ms. Browne said during that show "that's what the lieutenant told me, too."

And Williams responded by saying, "That's right."

The suit said Williams, his producers and Ms. Browne failed to confirm with police that Mineer was not a suspect in Ms. Fraysure's disappearance.
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A spokesman for Williams in New York on Wednesday declined comment. Ms. Browne could not be reached for comment.

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Full article: Source

On another note:

FORTUNE-TELLING RULING PLEASES TWO PSYCHICS FORTUNE-TELLING DECISION PLEASES PSYCHICS
San Jose Mercury News (CA) - Friday, August 16, 1985
Author: JAY GOLDMAN, Mercury News Staff Writer

Two area psychics today applauded the state Supreme Court ruling that strikes down prohibitions on fortune telling -- but warned that without regulation, fakes could get into the business.

An assistant to San Jose psychic Flores Merino, one of only two fortune tellers licensed by San Jose, said, "As far as she was concerned it (the court ruling) sounds fine. But (applicants) should be screened before granting a license because, otherwise, it is bad for legitimate businesses. They should weed out the fake ones; they should be regulated." The assistant chose not to identify himself.

The state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that laws prohibiting fortune telling violate the state Constitution's free speech protections.

Saratoga psychic Sylvia Brown said she, too, has ambivalent feelings about the decision.

''I think it's marvelous because I believe in free speech," the founder of the Nirvana Foundation said, "but I worry that it may bring the 'tent people' out -- the ones who ask you to cross their palms with silver and take the cash and run.

''I came from a time when I had to fight all the way to make this a profession. I had to prove myself and earn the right to win acceptance and work with doctors and lawyers, and I hate to think that this decision could lump those of us who are legitimate with the crystal ball-gazers and the palm readers. People deserve to be protected from those who are, to us, like quack doctors are to the medical profession."
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Full article: Source

I'd like some names of the people she "proved" herself to.

"fortune-telling ruling pleases two psychics"

I'm going to keep this handy if I ever run out of syrup of Ipecac, it's an excellent vomit inducer.

PastBrowneFan said:

I've said it before, and will probably say it again, they sleep very well on their expensive, high thread count sheets.

If money is your God, then the ends really do justify the means.

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I suppose you are right.

The sad part-or one of them, at least-for me, is that before I started learning about SB and the role Williams has played in allowing her to prey on the vulnerable and the grieving, I actually had respect for Williams. Both as a veteran, and for his battle with multiple sclerosis.

No more. His enabling of Browne just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm sure a lot of folks feel the same way.

PastBrowneFan said:

If money is your God, then the ends really do justify the means.

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.
Sigworthy. Yoinked.

desertgal said:

I suppose you are right.

The sad part-or one of them, at least-for me, is that before I started learning about SB and the role Williams has played in allowing her to prey on the vulnerable and the grieving, I actually had respect for Williams. Both as a veteran, and for his battle with multiple sclerosis.

No more. His enabling of Browne just leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm sure a lot of folks feel the same way.

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I not only lost all my respect for Williams because of Browne, I had all respect for him obliterated.

The funny thing is that if it weren't for Browne, I would really admire him very much. He does nice things for people. Champions some very good causes. Raises awareness about very important things. Is very smart, charismatic, handsome and funny.

Amazing how someone can be so respectable and blameless in all matters of his career and life on one hand (well, he's had three marriages and two divorces and one of his daughters was a wild child in high school so that doesn't speak too highly of him) and so morally bankrupt on the other hand.

How a father of four could have not only let but helped Browne exploit the murders/kidnappings of children and the victimization of their parents, though...that trully is inexplicable.

EeneyMinnieMoe said:

Amazing how someone can be so respectable and blameless in all matters of his career and life on one hand (well, he's had three marriages and two divorces and one of his daughters was a wild child in high school so that doesn't speak too highly of him)

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I can't easily lay that one at his door. Not disputing your observations about Williams' moral bankruptcy-but I've known many good parents with children who went through a "wild child" phase, especially during puberty. Sometimes, kids go a little wild despite the best efforts of the parents.

I do agree that his being a parent makes his actions regarding Browne even more baffling. To condone what she has done to other parents...as you said, inexplicable. Unconscionable, and completely without justification.

Agreed. Then, Browne is a mother and a grandmother as well. She actually once said something to the effect of "Having sons and a granddaughter, I'd never lie to anyone about their kids cause I know how awful it must be to lose a child". "Never" meaning "several times a week".

John Edward is also a father, of a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old. And that doesn't seem to stop him from exploiting grieving parents.

James Van Praagh has no children, as he is in a same sex marriage and apparently has never adopted. Still, he should be ashamed of himself for taking advantage of Shawn Hornbeck's mother and stepfather and probably many others.

EeneyMinnieMoe said:

Agreed. Then, Browne is a mother and a grandmother as well. She actually once said something to the effect of "Having sons and a granddaughter, I'd never lie to anyone about their kids cause I know how awful it must be to lose a child". "Never" meaning "several times a week".

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She may be a mother and a grandmother, but she has never lost a child - you have to live that particular grief to understand it. I doubt that many bereaved mothers would willingly inflict that kind of pain on another mother without regard for the truth. Just another example of how inhumane Browne is. I know it's true, but it still boggles my mind with every new example.

John Edward is also a father, of a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old. And that doesn't seem to stop him from exploiting grieving parents.

James Van Praagh has no children, as he is in a same sex marriage and apparently has never adopted. Still, he should be ashamed of himself for taking advantage of Shawn Hornbeck's mother and stepfather and probably many others.

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This, too, is inexplicable. How do they live with themselves? I know they probably laugh all the way to the bank, but if there is a hell, they've each got a place in it.

I know what you mean. Browne still boggles my mind and I've been on her case for more than two years now! Every time you think you couldn't like her less, she goes ahead and surprises you.

How JVP and JE can live with themselves is also inexplicable. Maybe they believe in their own abilities, like many mediums do? Do they strike you as true believers? Van Praagh maybe. John Edward- no, most likely not. Though he does seem to be sincere about his spirituality and actually seems to truly believe in God.

It's funny but neither of them seem particularly despicable outside of pretending to contact the dead. Maybe it's the banality of evil but Edward could make one's head explode when he is on stage...but off stage, he seems not only like he'd be ok to hang out with for a few hours, he seems like he'd actually be boring.

Mining his personal life for clues, you see nothing to indicate a criminal con man. Unlike Browne, no adultery, no allegedly out of wedlock child, no estrangement from a parent, no custody suits, no lawsuits, no failed marriages, no arrests, no allegations of misconduct and bad behavior from former employees, no reports of racist statements made in private. Unlike Browne, actually went to a real college and got a real degree. Happy marriage, two kids.

The only thing you can sort of point to is that he says his parents had a bad relationship and he ended up living with his mother's relatives as a child and her family was in some ways dysfunctional- but that's all irrelevant to his own character and, as with Montel's daughter, probably not his fault.

Guess it's dangerous to try to link someone's personal life with their professional life to learn about their character, anyway. Charlton Heston was an alcoholic but that said nothing about his politics or whether they were right or not. Tom Cruise has two failed marriages, is a high school dropout and was raised by a single mother but that says nothing about his involvement with Scientology. George Bush was a wild partier for half his life but that in and of itself doesn't say anything about his competency, intelligence and level of responsibility.

One last thing to be said about Montel Williams- he has forever forfeited the right to criticize any of his guests. Any of them. Even when he is arguably correct.

When he has a deadbeat father with a gambling problem who is constantly in and out of jail and is wanted for not paying alimony and child support in two states on the show and admonishes him for neglecting his five children by three different women or some Britney Spears type that parties every night and leaves her three young children to be raised by her single mother and 15-year-old brother and he lectures them about the harm they are doing to their children...he has to stop.

As a matter of fact, the deadbeat dad/deadbeat mom would be perfectly within their rights to say "Please, Montel Williams telling me about hurting kids? You let Sylvia Browne come here!".

That's right. Montel Williams has sunk so low, he has lost the moral high ground to gambling addicts and jailbirds.

EeneyMinnieMoe said:

Tom Cruise has two failed marriages, is a high school dropout and was raised by a single mother but that says nothing about his involvement with Scientology.

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No, but, then, he's also an actor. That DOES say a lot about his involvement with Scientology-especially HIS involvement, since it's an open secret that Scientology caters to Cruise. I'm not saying that all actors are ego driven, but I think it's fair to say that, with some, such as Cruise, there is a large ego involved, and a desire for high visibility and respect. Scientology fuels those traits, I believe. Even when he says something totally inane, Scientology still hails him as a wunderkind.

I don't think it can always be said that someone's personal life can be linked to their professional life, but, as with Tom Cruise, some links are glaringly apparent.

I guess the distinction is between personal stuff that's relevant and personal stuff that is not relevant.

For instance, Heston's alcoholism was not in the slightest relevant to the position he held and no one's business but his own. However, Bush's long struggle with drink might have been relevant to his performance on the job and might have been a clue to his sudden involvement in religion in his middle age.

The same way, Tom Cruise's self admitted unhappy childhood and various minor personal troubles might be a clue to his interest in Scientology and his somewhat questionable behavior. Or maybe not.

Or maybe it's the other way around and his failed marriages and so on were the effect of CoS and not the cause.

Or maybe the two have nothing to do with one another and are completely unrelated.