Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush quite recently got a decent settlement suing a newspaper (I think) for defamation for publishing #metoo type allegations against him for being "creepy" or whatever. These #metoo things haven't tended to have much success in legal settings because of the whole lacking in evidence thing. More than that even, a lot of them, even if they are true, don't allege behavior that is, actually, illegal in any real sense.
But, the primary consequences are not legal but SOCIAL. So, woman accuses X of some vaguely defined misconduct in the news media, media and public (with exceptions of hardcore supporters of X) go nuts and demand all private organizations end all ties with X and there his career goes. No legal consequences for X, but most Xs would probably prefer some legal penalty and keeping their careers (even significant legal penalties).
Defamation laws might be a good counterbalance or remedy to this. I think they should be strengthened. If someone goes to the press with bare allegations and they publish them, then that does immense damage to X. Even if X doesn't face legal consequences, they're career is often effectively over which is far worse than fines and even jail time.
The reality is today is that social consequences are often MUCH more powerful than legal consequences. And just as we have strong protections from tossing people in jail based on allegations, we need to have protections that keep people from career ruin based on mere allegation.
But, the primary consequences are not legal but SOCIAL. So, woman accuses X of some vaguely defined misconduct in the news media, media and public (with exceptions of hardcore supporters of X) go nuts and demand all private organizations end all ties with X and there his career goes. No legal consequences for X, but most Xs would probably prefer some legal penalty and keeping their careers (even significant legal penalties).
Defamation laws might be a good counterbalance or remedy to this. I think they should be strengthened. If someone goes to the press with bare allegations and they publish them, then that does immense damage to X. Even if X doesn't face legal consequences, they're career is often effectively over which is far worse than fines and even jail time.
The reality is today is that social consequences are often MUCH more powerful than legal consequences. And just as we have strong protections from tossing people in jail based on allegations, we need to have protections that keep people from career ruin based on mere allegation.
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