Donald Trump threatens to sue 'Dump Trump' leader
The business mogul says Angelo Carusone's drive aimed at getting Macy's to drop him is hurting his name, to the tune of $25 million worth of damages.
Donald Trump isn't happy with the "Dump Trump" campaign, and he's willing to put a price tag on how upset it's made him: $25 million worth of annoyance.
After an activist named Angelo Carusone started a petition last year urging Macy's (M) to cut its business ties to Trump, more than 685,000 people signed on as supporters of the "Dump Trump" campaign. The petition claims that Trump engages in "sexist behavior," has denied "the reality of climate change" and has supported "the racially charged birther conspiracy."
Trump's attorney, Alan Garten, late last year sent a letter to Carusone, threatening him with a $25 million lawsuit unless he ends his protest.
"Make no mistake: your concerted efforts to harass and injure Mr. Trump, his name, reputation and business dealings are actionable under law and will not be tolerated," Garten wrote in the Dec. 27 letter.
Carusone now tells The Hollywood Reporter that he's receiving legal counsel from the nonprofit Public Citizen and that he'll continue his battle against Trump.
"I would hope that Macy’s would recognize now that the things we’ve been saying about Donald Trump are in fact accurate, and they are cause for concern,” Carusone said. "That Trump does engage in bullying and intimidation. That his brand is inconsistent with the Macy’s brand.”
But Trump's attorney alleges that the bullying is instead coming from Carusone.
"[Y]ou have apparently made it your mission to interfere with and intentionally disrupt Mr. Trump's longstanding and well-established business relationship with Macy's…through mob-like bullying and coercion," the letter claims.
Macy's has so far stood by Trump. Chief Executive Terry Lundgren responded last year by noting that the department store's merchandise and marketing didn't reflect "any political position."
Garten told the Reporter that he was surprised Carusone had made the letter public, adding that the "guy's a loser."
As for whether Trump will follow through on his threat of a lawsuit, it sounds as if the "Celebrity Apprentice" host is biding his time. In an interview with Women's Wear Daily, he said, "Whether we act on the letter or not is subject to seeing what goes on.”
I think we need to start a petition to have NBC cancel Celebrity Apprentice. What goofy TV, Trumpmeister has to again decide whether to fire Gary Busey or Lil John....can't get much more riveting then that!! What goofiness!!
Also, is this guy getting much uglier in his pictures now that he's getting older? i think so! Almost like a worn out look...the same as his show.
Whether or not the potential suit has merit, it is disturbing to me that wealthy people can threaten little folks in this country with lawsuits, because the little people in most cases can't afford the defense, even if it is just a harassment suit (slap-suit). I have been in that situation once before and have been threatened as well. My parents were harassed by a slap-suit from a wealthy person and it cost 30,000 for defense and the money was not recoverable, even though my parents won. The 30K was peanuts for the guy bringing the suit, but devastating for my parents, even though they were in the right.
This happens all the time in the good 'ol US of A, good justice if you can afford it! Little to none if you can't.
Really makes you wonder when an idiot like Trump can go so far in business. Carusone should be OK, it's not libel or defamation if it's true and it does not look like he's saying anything untrue about Trump and I think we're all entitled to an opinion about any thing or any one.
Trump likes to act tough and speak his mind on tv, but he doesn't tolerate it from others when something is being said about him. He should try acting tough in a public place and see where that gets him. I doubt he could whip is way out of a wet paper sack, ha.
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