An oldie but goodie, Jerry v. Larry:
Falwell took exception to Flynt's harsh ad,
Sued him for being an unrepentant cad.
The ad falsely claimed a night of drunken incest.
Had Jerry say, "Sex with mom was the best!"
Jerry was incensed, wanted Larry found liable.
But the court held, "Defamation? Not triable."
So Jerry thought hard, tried a new approach,
Claimed he felt sad, as low as a 'roach.
"That lowlife Larry, he meant to do this.
To ruin cruelly my preaching bliss.
Beyond his vilest dreams, he has succeeded.
So the harm to my ego can be deleted
Only if the Supreme Court grants me redress
For intentional infliction of emotional distress."
The Court for months solemnly reflected,
Then handed down an opinion, in a word: "Rejected.
You have to demonstrate actual malice."
Jerry's best claim sank with this legal ballast.
Larry was left free to make ribald parody
Proving that good taste was but a rarity.
- a summary of Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988)
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