Federal judge tosses ‘Borat’ suit
A judge in New York has tossed out a defamation lawsuit brought by a businessman shown in the movie “Borat” as he is chased down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue by comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
Federal Judge Loretta Preska says the term “newsworthy” -- defined in its most liberal and far-reaching terms -- can be applied to the 2006 hit movie.
The lawsuit had sought unspecified damages for Jeffrey Lemerond, a Dartmouth College graduate and financial analyst. In the movie, Lemerond is shown running and yelling “Go away!” as Baron Cohen’s character, a phony Kazakhstan journalist, chases him in an attempt to hug strangers.
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