Victor Mignogna v. Funimation Productions, LLC, et al. (2019) - Vic's lawsuit against Funimation, VAs, and others, for over a million dollars.

[RodgerDodger]

He is a 20 year member of the industrie and was a headliner at many cons, its pretty hard to argue he isnt a public figure of some sort.
Ty would be realy stupid if he argues that vic isnt a public figure. they only have to show the crowds he gets at cons and Tys defense is toast.

The definition of "Public Figure" is actually narrower than most think. Further exploited very outrageously by the Media, which has a vested interest in declaring everyone and anyone a Public Figure in order to lesson and limit their own liability for bad reporting and outright defamation. The Media tries to trick the public into believing anyone the media reports on or the public may have even a passing knowledge of as a "Public Figure". The actual higher burdens for libel, slander and defamation were really intended only for Members of the Government or those with direct public power. (such as the media themselves, irony such that it is). Being a D List celebrity is not supposed to impart "Public Figure" Status on anyone. And the "Limited Public Figure" Status is similarly highly abused and is only supposed to apply to those who insert themselves into the public debate. Being known within a narrow community for voicing cartoon characters as a means of employment is not supposed to raise the burden placed upon you should you face defamatory actions by third parties.

 

[Country Matters]

This is the only way I see Rooster Teeth getting caught in this and I hope it happens but man... even then as I see it there's still the chance that RT won't get caught on anything actionable, and then there's the issue of money. Hopefully the um... earnings? (would that be the right term?) from the Funi lawsuit could fund future lawsuits including one against RT.

Yeah the only way is if they find backstage shenanigans happening. Which I think is very likely, but I think in that case it will be less against the company itself and specific people of interest (though admittedly I can't pretend to know a ton about law). RT the company doesn't seem to want anything to do with this situation and hasn't from the start

When they didn't renew the contract, honestly I think that was less "believe women!" (outside of specific people like miles luna and a couple of others before i presume they were reeled in) and more them trying to distance themselves from a controversy to save their own asses (though it probably looked to the kickvic people as being pro-woman or whatev). People try to pretend RT is just a couple of buddies making machinima like in the old days and not a much, much bigger entertainment company that is really only looking out for their own dollar. If someone is blowing up in a bad way, whether it's their own fault or not, either they'll be reigned in or let go quietly, they don't want to affect business for dumb shit like social justice, and they sure as fuck don't want to do it in a public spectacle (see: all the controversial leavings that have littered the entirety of their business that were barely or never mentioned by anyone in the company and only came to light because of the ex-employees)

 

[Far Queue]

This is the only way I see Rooster Teeth getting caught in this and I hope it happens but man... even then as I see it there's still the chance that RT won't get caught on anything actionable, and then there's the issue of money. Hopefully the um... earnings? (would that be the right term?) from the Funi lawsuit could fund future lawsuits including one against RT.

They might also come to their senses once they see everyone else getting slapped around. You already know that Soye is going to say some truly exceptional shit during his deposition. I'm pretty sure they have enough evidence that they haven't exposed yet that they'll lead Ron into perjuring himself and once they have that to threaten him with, he'll squeal on other things that they can only speculate about or don't have as much solid evidence as they might like.

Repeat with Monica and Marchie and they'll have plenty of ammunition not only against Funimation, but also against some of the individuals likely to be in round 2 who have been suggested to be acting as ring leaders. Not only will they face existing evidence from Tweets, emails with conventions, etc., but also likely sworn testimony from other people involved implicating them further.

RT can save themselves a lot of suffering by settling early. It might not even cost them very much and they can probably find someone else involved in the suit to throw under the bus. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else connected to this contacted them about the results of the Funimation "investigation" and they can argue that it was an honest mistake from there to save face for themselves while similarly making things with Vic right.

 

[mindlessobserver]

Rooster Teeth may not necessarily be implicated, but they could definitely be roped in via subpoena to produce evidence. Rooster Teeth firing vic after the Funi crew told them all sorts of defamatory things is not on Rooster Teeth, but it is evidence of actual monetary damage caused by Funimation and their merry band of retards.

Now if it turns out Rooster Teeth was also involved in trying to get Vic blacklisted at conventions that is another story.

 

[Mrtrollenski]

Tl;dr complete speculation

I don’t remember who Nick R. Alluded to in one of his stremes, as im at most an outside to this community, but he made it sound like some dude had already flipped. Time and time again we’ve seen people just like these people setup retarded discord servers for gay ops and they get leaked, trout comes to mind as the most recent, that could be the case as well.

There’s also a serious question as to if Vic had literally one person in his old friend group who was actually his friend and logged all this and sent it to him already. The only major time I’ve ever spent in court was family court and out of the relatively few cases I heard while waiting my turn 2 of them had “friends” that betrayed one party or the other and offered up a metric shit ton of texts. Could easily be the case here. Time will tell.

 

[ForerunnerAI]

How's Rooster Teeth doing? None of their shows were ever even at decent quality. Their animation isn't even at TV quality, YouTube was "screwing them over" (really, I think people saw RWBY as what it always was, garbage), they lost so much money on gen:LOCK for many reasons (such as hiring famous people but not on the animation!), you might as well call the company "Nepotism Teeth" , nobody (apart from the actual professional voice actors) can act, nobody there can write a story (Especially not Monty Oum, bite me!), it's always the same guys (I'm scared of their Transformers show), and in general, incompetence.

Does anyone have interesting dirt on these people? Are they in dire straits? Does anyone have good dirt on them?!

I will say this! It's really inspiring knowing they were once a bunch of idiots in their garage who didn't know what they were doing to a bunch of idiots running a big company who don't what they're doing! That's the American dream! It gives me hope I and many others can run a company!

 

[AnOminous]

I don’t remember who Nick R. Alluded to in one of his stremes, as im at most an outside to this community, but he made it sound like some dude had already flipped. Time and time again we’ve seen people just like these people setup exceptional discord servers for gay ops and they get leaked, trout comes to mind as the most recent, that could be the case as well.

There are certainly people who already "flipped" or never were really on the side of the kickers in the first place. Just the constant leaking of information that subsequently turned out correct and could not have been sourced otherwise shows that.

I don't know if any of the actual likely lawsuit targets have, but it looks like there's always at least someone talking to them who also talks to Nick.

 

[5t3n0g0ph3r]

Now if it turns out Rooster Teeth was also involved in trying to get Vic blacklisted at conventions that is another story.

This is excluding RTX, which is the convention that Rooster Teeth owns.

 

[Solo Wing Pixy]

They might also come to their senses once they see everyone else getting slapped around. You already know that Soye is going to say some truly exceptional shit during his deposition. I'm pretty sure they have enough evidence that they haven't exposed yet that they'll lead Ron into perjuring himself and once they have that to threaten him with, he'll squeal on other things that they can only speculate about or don't have as much solid evidence as they might like.

Repeat with Monica and Marchie and they'll have plenty of ammunition not only against Funimation, but also against some of the individuals likely to be in round 2 who have been suggested to be acting as ring leaders. Not only will they face existing evidence from Tweets, emails with conventions, etc., but also likely sworn testimony from other people involved implicating them further.

RT can save themselves a lot of suffering by settling early. It might not even cost them very much and they can probably find someone else involved in the suit to throw under the bus. I wouldn't be surprised if someone else connected to this contacted them about the results of the Funimation "investigation" and they can argue that it was an honest mistake from there to save face for themselves while similarly making things with Vic right.

I really, Really, hope they don't come to their senses, because...
1. It would be really funny to watch them get torn apart in court.
and
2. I hate Rooster Teeth and this would be carthartic.

I know I know I'll take my MadAtTheInternet reactions I am mad at RT after all. They took a show I enjoyed and let any quality RWBY had slip in lieu of shoving politics and gender politics into it.

I sincerely doubt that they are going to make things right with Vic, even if they bring him back on they'll most likely just kill his character off so that he can't do anything. If I was a betting man then I would be pretty willing to bet money on this happening given that the lead writer (Miles Luna) of the show Vic is on with RT is KickVic.

Rooster Teeth may not necessarily be implicated, but they could definitely be roped in via subpoena to produce evidence. Rooster Teeth firing vic after the Funi crew told them all sorts of defamatory things is not on Rooster Teeth, but it is evidence of actual monetary damage caused by Funimation and their merry band of exceptional individuals.

Now if it turns out Rooster Teeth was also involved in trying to get Vic blacklisted at conventions that is another story.

And this is why I'm pessimistic about RT getting caught in a lawsuit, because you need to find something that opens them up to legal action and that is probably going to be few and far between.

 

[Gehenna]

Reckless disregard for the truth is one of two ways you prove actual malice. The other is actual knowledge that you're lying.

I'd assume that if they had evidence of that, they'd have used it. I also would then doubt they would be relying on finding it in discovery since that seems... unsure. If I could ask, what are the requirements to prove defamation, as they are relevant to this case?

 

[AnOminous]

I'd assume that if they had evidence of that, they'd have used it. I also would then doubt they would be relying on finding it in discovery since that seems... unsure. If I could ask, what are the requirements to prove defamation, as they are relevant to this case?

It's defamatory (hurts the reputation), and it's not true.

 

[Slap47]

The definition of "Public Figure" is actually narrower than most think. Further exploited very outrageously by the Media, which has a vested interest in declaring everyone and anyone a Public Figure in order to lesson and limit their own liability for bad reporting and outright defamation. The Media tries to trick the public into believing anyone the media reports on or the public may have even a passing knowledge of as a "Public Figure". The actual higher burdens for libel, slander and defamation were really intended only for Members of the Government or those with direct public power. (such as the media themselves, irony such that it is). Being a D List celebrity is not supposed to impart "Public Figure" Status on anyone. And the "Limited Public Figure" Status is similarly highly abused and is only supposed to apply to those who insert themselves into the public debate. Being known within a narrow community for voicing cartoon characters as a means of employment is not supposed to raise the burden placed upon you should you face defamatory actions by third parties.

I think they might be getting their info from wikipedia...

 

[Slamerella]

So far we have two ways of how Vic would lose. No proof of colluding and collaborating with others to hoist Vic out of his position, and if the claims of sexual harassment, assault, etc. are true. As far as we know the latter hasn't been proven at all, and seems almost unlikely to be proven. It's not your run of the mill "Glove Doesn't Fit", but instea the idea of getting so many people to testify is going to be nearly impossible. I can't see this happening at all. The former is very unrealistic after what we have seen and heard. Vic has this in the bag, but knowing USA Court, we'll see him win in 2026.

I know I know I'll take my MadAtTheInternet reactions I am mad at RT after all. They took a show I enjoyed and let any quality RWBY had slip in lieu of shoving politics and gender politics into it.

Care to explain? Not that I don't believe you, I could never get into the show, even if I thought Yang was really pretty and the only redeemable quality of the show.

 

[MemeGray]

Theres alot of talk about RT as a single entity being sued but wouldn't it be easier to go after Miles Luna and that Shannon guy as they both publicly made statements about Vic whereas RT has kept hush?

 

[Judge Dredd]

Because Rooster Teeth themselves, the business, did not perform any public defamation. Their parting ways with Nick appears to have occurred at a natural point on contract renewal or negotiation. They kept their public comments properly professional. There is some question regarding individual RT contractors making comments, but linking them to RT as principals for purposes of defamation would be an uphill battle. RT will probably not be touched until or unless discovery reveals who was talking to them. The only thing questionable with RT is they fired Vic at the same time as Funi and the cons. So who was bringing them the info that they acted upon?

On one of the Nick Rekieta streams he said that if RT wanted to avoid a lawsuit all the do was continue hiring Vic. So I'm guessing the connection is limited to 1 or a few people and not the company as a whole.

 

[Kosher Salt]

I'd assume that if they had evidence of that, they'd have used it. I also would then doubt they would be relying on finding it in discovery since that seems... unsure. If I could ask, what are the requirements to prove defamation, as they are relevant to this case?

There are two or three elements of defamation. One of these elements is only required when a public figure is claiming defamation. If Vic is not a public figure, the only elements of his claim are (1) that the statements were false, and (2) that they damaged him somehow. If they were false and damaging, then they were defamatory.

The statements were false: Vic has to provide evidence only that it's more likely than not that their defamatory accusations were false, so it can literally just be him, saying under oath, that they're false. At that point, his accusers have to produce evidence that's more convincing, or they lose. And they couldn't just to try to prove that it's more likely than not that he sexually assaulted someone, somewhere; they will have to back up the specific claims that they made. Hope Ron Toye can name "over 100 women"!

The statements were damaging: When someone is accused of seriously heinous, criminal, acts, this is called "defamation per se", which means that it is automatically damaging, and specific damages do not even have to be proven. Even though Vic can prove that he's been damaged, he doesn't have to. This element is adequately met just by the nature of the accusations themselves.

The third element of defamation, which would only have to be proven if Vic was a public figure, is actual malice. The legal definition of malice is that the defamatory statements were made knowing that they were false, or with reckless disregard to their truthfulness.

Since Texas is a "notice pleading" state, they don't have to put all their evidence in the complaint (the initial filing of the lawsuit). They only need to include sufficient evidence to support the causes of action (defamation, tortious interference with existing contracts, tortious interference with prospective business relations) and theories (civil conspiracy, vicarious liability) that they're bringing. Since BHBH is of the opinion that Vic is not a public figure, they don't have to prove actual malice, so they didn't need to include evidence of actual malice in the complaint. If the court eventually decides that Vic is a public figure, then BHBH would have to file an amended complaint to include evidence of actual malice.

 

[Solo Wing Pixy]

On one of the Nick Rekieta streams he said that if RT wanted to avoid a lawsuit all the do was continue hiring Vic. So I'm guessing the connection is limited to 1 or a few people and not the company as a whole.

Hey this reminds me... could they actually hold Rooster Teeth accountable for the actions of Miles, Shannon, and Jen and pull them into court for not keeping their employees in line? Maybe this is just a crazy theory I don't know.

 

[Gehenna]

There are two or three elements of defamation. One of these elements is only required when a public figure is claiming defamation. If Vic is not a public figure, the only elements of his claim are (1) that the statements were false, and (2) that they damaged him somehow. If they were false and damaging, then they were defamatory.

The statements were false: Vic has to provide evidence only that it's more likely than not that their defamatory accusations were false, so it can literally just be him, saying under oath, that they're false. At that point, his accusers have to produce evidence that's more convincing, or they lose. And they couldn't just to try to prove that it's more likely than not that he sexually assaulted someone, somewhere; they will have to back up the specific claims that they made. Hope Ron Toye can name "over 100 women"!

The statements were damaging: When someone is accused of seriously heinous, criminal, acts, this is called "defamation per se", which means that it is automatically damaging, and specific damages do not even have to be proven. Even though Vic can prove that he's been damaged, he doesn't have to. This element is adequately met just by the nature of the accusations themselves.

The third element of defamation, which would only have to be proven if Vic was a public figure, is actual malice. The legal definition of malice is that the defamatory statements were made knowing that they were false, or with reckless disregard to their truthfulness.

Since Texas is a "notice pleading" state, they don't have to put all their evidence in the complaint (the initial filing of the lawsuit). They only need to include sufficient evidence to support the causes of action (defamation, tortious interference with existing contracts, tortious interference with prospective business relations) and theories (civil conspiracy, vicarious liability) that they're bringing. Since BHBH is of the opinion that Vic is not a public figure, they don't have to prove actual malice, so they didn't need to include evidence of actual malice in the complaint. If the court eventually decides that Vic is a public figure, then BHBH would have to file an amended complaint to include evidence of actual malice.

Thank you! It helps, at least for me, to know the critieria of what is being talked about.

As a note off this, sounds like a right lot of them are truely and absolutely doomed.

 

[RodgerDodger]

So question for those more knowledgeable than me. How's the jury going to take it when it is brought up that after firing Vic, and making those public tweets regarding how they tolerate no harassment etc etc, Funimation goes and rehires a VA who has been arrested for actually Fucking Children? For unquestionably grooming one or more underage teenagers ala Shane.

While we are at it, how will all of Monica's public tweets discussing her active and amazing sex life with Ron be taken given her complaints regarding "harassment" at work? Am I wrong in thinking a Texas Jury will see right through that and determine Monica gave as good as she got in the verbal interplay, and is only now seeking to use it as a weapon for unethical purpose?

 

[JohnDoe]

How's the jury going to take it

Conservative Texas Jury: "Lord Jesus, have mercy on these wicked sinners, because we sure as shit won't."