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Our Litigious Society: Woman Sues Daughter-in-Law Comedian Over Jokes

from the no-laughing-matter? dept

Mon, Aug 31st 2009 12:23pm — Mike Masnick

In-law jokes are a pretty standard staple of the standup comedy business. They can be pretty funny too... even if the concept is a bit dated. But, apparently, they're not so funny to the in-laws of comedian Sunda Croonquist. ChurchHatesTucker alerts us to the news that Croonquist's mother-in-law and sister-in-law are suing the comedian for cracking rather typical "in-law" jokes, which, apparently the in-laws didn't find to be all that funny. They're suing for defamation, even though you have to wonder if anyone actually takes such jokes seriously. I mean, it's a comedian. Of course the jokes are either made up or exaggerated for comedic effect. Still, probably makes for a frosty family gathering.

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Filed Under: comedian, defamation, jokes, litigation

25 Comments

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Anonymous Poster, 31 Aug 2009 @ 12:42pm

That's...that's just stupid. And not RIAA stupid, I mean "why aren't you in an asylum" crazy stupid.
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David (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 12:55pm

Ha Ha Ha!
I am looking forward to these folks learning about "The Streisand Effect"!
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Lucretious, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:15pm

The bigger question is, how did the son end up with her? He's either packing 12inches minimum or is insanely wealthy.

I'll be here all week folks......
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Comboman, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:16pm

Lawyers!!!!
The comedian's husband (the guy who's mother is suing her) works for the law firm that's defending her. I smell a rat! Seems like a scheme to generate legal fees and boost the comedian's profile. Everyone involved should be fined for wasting the court's time. If you follow the money, it usually leads to a lawyer.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:33pm

I thought defamation was more along the lines of actually using their names and whatever being said about then has some sort of impact on them getting a job or hurting a company or some such. But I guess defamation now is just somebody saying something remotely about you in some oddball way you don't like.
I now wanna know who these people are where as before I doubt anybody gave a shit.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:34pm

Re: Lawyers!!!!
Are you suggesting that Mike and Techdirt are once again being used to promote someone else, while accidentally thinking he has uncovered some major outrage?

Let's see... Facepalm Palmer, Noz, and now this? Bad run there Mike.
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spaceman spiff, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:35pm

more grist for the mill
Man, are they (the in-laws) in for it now! Talk about "poking the lion with a stick"! I can't wait to see what she comes up with next... :-)
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Dark Helmet (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:41pm

Question
I didn't see any of the litigants involved, but did anyone else read this entire story while picturing the Everybody Loves Raymond family playing out the parts?
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some old guy, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:42pm

this stinks
smells like free advertising!
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Anonymoose, 31 Aug 2009 @ 1:55pm

SE in 3.. 2.. 1..
Bright side is that she's getting lots of attention, and probably new material...
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senshikaze (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:05pm

Re:
Or he hates mother too. I mean nothing brings people together like mutual hatred for a third party.

(im betting on the rich. Comedians couldn't be with someone that well gifted: there is nothing funny about it)
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:27pm

The defendant (the comic) is a black Swedish woman who married into a Jewish family, and some of her mother-in-law jokes are hilarious.

"So you know there was drama when we got the sonogram results cause she was real excited. 'OK, now that we know you're having a little girl I want to know what you're naming that little tchotchke. Now I realize there's a difference in the background with the African-American, colored, black, whatever you people call yourselves these days. Seriously, I just don't want a name that's difficult to pronounce like Shaniqua. Because in my mind I'm thinking of a name short but delicious. Like Hadassah or Goldie.'"

"Another in her routine goes: 'I'm a black woman with a Jewish mother-in-law. You know the only thing we have in common is that we don't want to get our hair wet.'"

"Or her first visit to her mother-in-law's house: "I walk in, I say, 'Thank you so much for having me here, Ruthie.' She says, 'The pleasure's all mine, have a seat.'" Then, in a loud aside, 'Harriet, put my pocketbook away.'"
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NullOp, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:29pm

Ha!
If she's funny at all she'll have money and money is what law suits are all about! It doesn't matter if someone is really offended, it doesn't matter if the jokes are true or not what matters is money. Money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money....it makes that happy sound, it makes the world go 'round...
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:30pm

Re:
Congrats on continuing to promote the person who is just doing all this for attention as it is.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:36pm

Shouldn't it be "comedienne?" I'm only saying because if you're inferring she's a male, you might get sued.
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Dohn Joe, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:39pm

Some Truth in Them Apparently
I wonder if the cracked one about their lacking a sense of humour...seems that would've been right on the money!
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:44pm

Tennessee called....
they want to sue Jeff Foxworthy.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 2:47pm

The plaintiff should make sure to post all the defamatory posts, in a very public place, to make sure everyone in the world knows the kind of things the daughter-in-law has been saying about her, and join her in her indignation.
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bigpicture, 31 Aug 2009 @ 3:10pm

Re: Crazy Stupid
I guess some people just do not think their actions through. There can be many possible outcomes of this line of action, and as far as I can see all of them are downsides.

Hubby's law firm wins the case and there are conflict of interest issues leading to possible disbarment?

Hubby's law firm looses the case and there is a subsequent divorce.

The mother usually gets the house and custody of the kids, and then how often is the in-laws going to get to see them?

What if she has Swedish citizenship and relatives in Sweden and decides to move there? There is no win-win anywhere in this, not even a win-loose, just a loose-loose.
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Jason (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 4:04pm

Re: Question
Uncanny isn't it.
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Luci, 31 Aug 2009 @ 4:13pm

I don't know why, but the only thing that really popped at me was the NY Post misspelling her name, once. Seems pretty standard and boring, to me.
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Anonymous Coward, 31 Aug 2009 @ 4:24pm

A priest, an aviator and Ruth Zafrin walk into a bar...
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teknosapien (profile), 31 Aug 2009 @ 4:25pm

are parodys covered
can some one tell me if parody's are covered. I mean its art isn't this type of thing protected?
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Jrosen (profile), 1 Sep 2009 @ 7:00am

Just.. wow.
And I repeat, Idiocy is apparently a contagious disease, at the rate people everywhere seem to start suffering from it.

If I were the comedienne's hubby, I'd just about disown my own family over that stupidity
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Anonymous Coward, 1 Sep 2009 @ 3:00pm

Re: SE in 3.. 2.. 1..
Now she will start telling jokes like this one. My mother-in-law is such a dumb bitch she sued me for making her laugh.
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