Yo, 'Sopranos' has 'right to sing'

By The Associated Press,
freedomforum.org

09.22.01

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CHICAGO — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing the makers of the HBO television series "The Sopranos" of stereotyping Italian-Americans, saying the show has a "right to sing."

The American Italian Defense Association had sued Time Warner Entertainment Co., claiming the show violated the "individual dignity" clause of the Illinois Constitution by depicting Italian-Americans as mobsters.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Richard A. Siebel on Sept. 19 rejected that argument.

"The aria may be offensive to Verdi but 'The Sopranos' have the constitutional right to sing," Siebel wrote in his 11-page ruling, according to Reuters. (The 19th-century Italian composer's opera, "Aida," is also the acronym for the plaintiff's name.)

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a portion of the state constitution reads: "Communications that portray criminality, depravity or lack of virtue in … a group of persons by reason of or by reference to religious, racial, ethnic, national or religious affiliation are condemned."

AIDA didn't want money or the cable show's cancellation, but a declaration from a jury that "The Sopranos" offends the dignity of Italian-Americans, attorney Ted Grippo, who represented the association, had said.

But Siebel said the "individual dignity" clause was only "a constitutional sermon" and was never meant to be used to bring lawsuits, according to the Sun-Times.

"It is included to serve a teaching purpose, to state an ideal or principle to guide the conduct of government and individual citizens," the judge wrote.

Siebel threw out the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled in Circuit Court. An appeal of the decision is allowed, though.

Grippo said he would appeal the judge's decision, but declined further comment.

Tom Yannucci, a lawyer representing Time Warner, had argued that viewers wouldn't assume from watching the show that all Italian-Americans are mobsters or morally corrupt.

He was pleased with the decision to throw out the lawsuit.

"It shuts down the effort to try dramas and fictional matters in a courtroom," Yannucci said.

Previous

Italian-American group sues makers of 'The Sopranos'
Illinois suit accuses HBO series of offending dignity of Italian Americans by wrongly portraying ethnic group’s members as mobsters.  04.06.01

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