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| Navy SEALs sue AP |
| 2004-12-29 |
| NEW YORK Six Navy SEALs and two of their wives filed a lawsuit against The Associated Press and one of its reporters today for allegedly revealing their identities in photos published in early December, according to a press release from the plaintiffs. The complaint, filed in California Superior Court, alleges that AP reporter Seth Hettena obtained a photograph in a personal Web site maintained by one of the wives of the Navy SEALs, which contains personal photographs. None of the plaintiffs are named in the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by E&P. They are represented by attorney James W. Huston of San Diego. Hettena allegedly removed photos from that site and published them on December 4, 2004, in a story stating that the pictures "could be" the earliest evidence of possible prisoner abuse in Iraq, the plaintiffs contend. The SEALs argue that the pictures "actually depict special warfare operators' standard procedures during covert operations. The Iraqis shown being captured in the photographs were leaders of anti-coalition attacks and Saddam loyalists." AP Director of Corporate Communications Ellen Hale declined to comment immediately to E&P, but said she would look into the matter. "There was no need for the AP to publish the faces of the SEALs," Huston, the Morrison & Foerster partner who is heading the plaintiffs' legal team, said in a statement. "They added nothing to the value of the story. In fact, the SEALs showed more respect for the insurgents and terrorists that they were apprehending by obscuring their faces than the AP did for the Navy SEALs who were in Iraq risking their lives," he added. Since the photos were released, they have been published widely in the Arab Press, including on Al Jazeera, the plaintiffs claim. They are requesting injunctive relief, to preclude republishing the photographs, to preclude the publication of additional unpublished photographs, and to preclude the publication of personal photos by the Navy wife whose site was invaded, such as her wedding photos. |
| Posted by:Korora |
| #8 Much as I'd like to see the AP take it in the shorts, I don't see how the SEALS' case has much to stand on. Posting photos to a website isn't much different than printing out photocopies and handing them out on the street corner. The AP was the second entity to publish the pictures to a public domain, not the first. |
| Posted by: Dar 2004-12-29 9:59:39 AM |
| #7 I wouldn't "really" recommend that you avoid telling the judge you know nothing about the issues when you end up on a civil jury in the case a surviving spouse brings against the AP for actions which contributed to the death of his/her mate. Just check the for the previous record jury award in a civil case to see if you guys can top it. |
| Posted by: Whaing Wherong1888 2004-12-29 9:02:40 AM |
| #6 "I have to ask though, why did she post their photos on her website?" Yeah. That is THE question. As much as I like the SEALS and hate the AP, what exactly is a "private website?" |
| Posted by: Dave 2004-12-29 7:25:22 AM |
| #5 SEALs are rough customers, can you imagine how insufferable their lawyers would be? sheeesh, the AP better have deep pockets. |
| Posted by: JerseyMike 2004-12-29 7:25:03 AM |
| #4 Good on you guys - hope you get shedloads of cash from those asshats. You can find some of the images by googling for 'Seth Hettena' and choosing the link from apnews.myway.com - I'll not do it from here as I don't want to give it more googlejuice. One of the guys faces is very very clear. The AP blurb says "A photo found posted on a commercial photo-sharing Web site operated by a woman who said her husband brought the photos from Iraq". I have to ask though, why did she post their photos on her website? |
| Posted by: Tony (UK) 2004-12-29 6:55:19 AM |
| #3 Perhapes some harrasment of AP reporters wifes buy unknow persons and the release of some of their private (gay sex)photos might enlighten the AP. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-12-29 1:01:35 AM |
| #2 But... but... but.... The public has a right to know! (By public AP means their terrorist allies....) |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-12-29 12:55:44 AM |
| #1 More than just injunctive relief, these guys should do their best to hit AP in the pocketbook HARD. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-12-29 12:33:27 AM |