John Galliano Convicted for Hate Speech in French Court, Kicks off Legal Fashion’s Night Out!

“Whaddai” miss? Did you all miss me? If you missed me, I missed you too. This past few weeks have been nothing short of a very busy grind with servicing my client(s)on their legal matters i.e. overload on legal research, motion work and court room drama. Plus, I decided I really wanted to create a distinct platform for Africans in the continent’s fashion and entertainment to address corresponding legal issues found in those industries. So, I launched Africamusiclaw.com which, of course,  took up more of my time. I still intend to discuss Africa from time to time but with a specific focus on African litigants in America’s courtrooms. Anyway, I’ve done all that needs to be done and I am back in full swing.

Shout out to my “sisters-in-fashion law” as I like to say: B.A.F.F.L.E.D, Fashion Cloture and Staci Riordan for holding it down even though I was not in full swing as I usually am! To my new fans on Facebook and Twitter, welcome. Nice to e-meet you and I am pretty confident you will enjoy exploring some of the fun, highly informative and witty content on www.fashionentlaw.com, if I can say so myself.

Okay, can we get this legal fashion’s night party started? Hello people? It is New York Fashion Week AND New York and the rest of the world is not the only one that knows how to throw down an all around eat your heart out “Fashion’s Night Out” party. We fashion lawyers also know how to get down, legally speaking. In fact, fashion lawyers come out right about now, in full force, bringing you  legal fashion shopping experiences to die for.

Case in point? John Galliano kicked off our Legal Fashion’s Night Out, yesterday. The verdict is in and the ex-Christian Dior fashion designer  is out of a job and officially a convicted criminal, with a criminal rap sheet to boot. Actually this is sad news. But, at the end of the day, we make our choices and deal with the consequences. It is what it is so we keep it moving.

Galliano was convicted of making anti-semitic statements in France and will have to also pay legal fines totaling $8,400.00, among other fees.

I have to say, days like this, I thank God I was born and live in the USA. Of course I do not want people going around spouting hate speech, but thank God that we live in a country where people can make such hateful statements, as they have done and still do, and not even see the corridors of the legal justice system.

Why? As Americans we really value our freedom, especially our freedom of speech. We value it so much, we are willing to tolerate the hateful speech of others, consistent with the laws that regulate free speech, so long as our own speech, when expressed, is also  tolerated. I think it is one of the things that makes this country so great.

What’s the practical application for you as a fashion and entertainment professional in the USA?

If you are a Fashion & Entertainment Employer: You do not want to go off spouting hate speech or derogatory remarks/statements to your employees/subordinates. If you do, you create a hostile working environment in violation of employment laws and you can and will be sued.

If you are a Fashion & Entertainment Employee: Same thing as above. You will get fired and could get sued by co-employees for harassment and emotional distress, among other claims, for the hostile work environment you subjected them to. Worse, depending on how aggressive you were with your remarks, your remarks and actions furthering your remarks could spill over to criminal assault and get the DA filing charges against you.

You don’t want trouble, be nice or better yet, be quiet if you have nothing nice to say.

Let me stop right here. Happy Fashion Week!

Oh! I finally completed the 32 pages of reading in the Christian Louboutin SA v. Yves Saint Laurent America, Inc. case. I look forward to sharing my few thoughts with you all this fashion week season.

“A Paris court convicted former Christian Dior designer John Galliano on Thursday of making anti-Semitic insults in a bar but gave him only a suspended sentence, taking into account his apology to the victims.

Galliano, who didn’t attend the announcement of the verdict, was given no prison time. He was given a suspended euro6,000 ($8,400) fine, which means it goes on his criminal record but he does not have to pay it.

He was, however, ordered to pay euro16,500 ($23,200)in court fees for the complainants – from three individuals and five anti-racism associations — plus a symbolic euro1 ($1.40) in damages to each one.

The Paris court found him guilty of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity” stemming from two separate incidents at a Paris bar. . .”

NPR has the full story.

Cheers,
Uduak

Photocredit: via Millionlooks.com