In certain circles, the movie “Brokeback Mountain” is a masterpiece, a movie triumph, a touching story of love and betrayal. In other more narrow minded circles, “Brokeback Mountain” is the cause for most eye cataracts and astigmatisms. In Chicago, it’s the cause for a civil lawsuit.
CHICAGO, Ill. (Chicago Sun Times) — A suit was filed on behalf of a 12-year-old girl who claims she suffered psychological distress when a teacher showed in class the gay-themed movie “Brokeback Mountain.”
The girl, Jessica Turner, and her grandparents Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking more than $400,000 in damages under the suit filed Friday against the Chicago Board of Education and others.
The suit claims a substitute teacher named Mrs. Buford came into the class and reportedly said, “What happens in Mrs. Buford’s class stays in Mrs. Buford’s class.” Didn’t Mary Kay Letourneau say that?
Then the teacher closed the door and screened the R-rated movie for the kids. The plantiffs claim the incidents caused the children great discomfort and distress as must undergo counseling. There’s no doubt this was a boneheaded move on the teacher’s part and the student deserves something. But it’s the check the defendant’s might have to pick up that’s an eyesore.
$400,000 smackers! They want $400,000! If I had $400,000 for every time I watched a movie that made me feel uncomfortable, I’d be God. I should get double for ones I had to watch with my Mom.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Robbie Wilson // May 16, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I completely agree, if i had 400,000 for every bad or uncomfortable movie i watched, we’d all be rich! you can’t get what you want all the time. she should have just taken a lesser settlement up with the school, not the school board. stupid lawsuits… great category
2 Kelli // May 27, 2007 at 11:47 pm
Ordinarily, I am the first one to say “Geez, people are greedy” when it comes to frivolous lawsuits. For some reason, I can’t decide when it comes to this one. I’ve seen Brokeback Mountain. It’s a good movie. It is NOT a good movie for 12 year old kids. There are few scenes that are graphic, but the graphic ones are pretty graphic. Maybe $400,000 is a bit much, but showing this movie to a bunch of 12 year olds is pretty flippin’ stupid and I am a firm believer that stupid people should be punished.
3 Ricci // May 30, 2007 at 6:52 pm
Sadly, in this particular case every child in that room could sue the Chicago board for a TON of money. This isnt about seeing a movie that made her uncomfortable, this is about an adult showing other adult’s children an “R” rated movie. This little girl is going to win some money, the teacher will lose her job, and other lawsuits will follow. It is SHOCKING to me that you guys find this suit to be “dumb”. We have enough problems in our schools and now a teacher is showing children R rated movies? Thats a parents choice. I tell you I am really really amazed to find you feel this is “dumb”. If you know any attorneys, sadly, the STATE actually has tables that show/tell you what you can and can not sue for under things “emotional” and Lawyers are taught to take the MAX. The plaintiff generally has to just say “okay” to whatever their attorney suggests. I’ve personally seen this happen.
4 Le // Jun 1, 2007 at 1:34 pm
ouch.
poor kids. they didnt know they where doing somthing wrong
and now theyr stuck in the middle of Å lawsuit
5 Mizuha // Mar 8, 2009 at 2:44 pm
That teacher was obviously an idiot.I mean,what’s the point of showing such a movie to 12 year olds anyway?
6 Lord Ashes // Jul 21, 2009 at 12:02 am
Boy…what I was a kid we actually did work in class…not watch movies all day.
In addition, I sure hope that teacher got permission from the copyright holder to screen the movie since showing the movie to a class of people probably infringes on some part of the Blockbuster rental agreement.
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