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Originally Posted by Alex Stroup
For one, we have an idea of what Ford told Jaguar/Land Rover but do we have any idea what was said in the meeting between AFA and the Ford executives?
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Well, that's the very purpose of a lawsuit, Alex. To find out these things.
It seems fishy, so you make formal allegations based on information and belief in a court of law. Doing so gives you the power to find out things that you will never have if you don't sue. If I name Ford in this lawsuit, they become obligated to turn over to me the minutes of their meetings with the AFA. Then we find out. If there's nothing to it, the lawsuit goes nowhere. If there's economic interference demonstrated by the minutes of those meetings, then that goes to evidence that AFA is liable for damages.
I would caution against throwing around the word "criminal." None of this is criminal, but it
is illegal. They are not the same thing, and I think the important distinction must be pointed out to those who are fearing the Thought Police. No one is going to be hauled into jail for telling Ford to stop advertising to them damn faggots. But someone
can be held liable for damages if they interfere with the contractual or business relationship between two parties.
Edited to add: Some things are interference, and others are not. Sitting outside Ford headquarters in protest is not interference. Telling Ford that you intend to boycott for their gay advertising policy is not interference. The line begins to be crossed when you tell Ford you will organize a boycott (that you have the actual power to organize) if they do not do as you say. And the line is trampled when you meet with them and work out a deal with specific terms and conditions. The discovery process of civil law allows litigants to (attempt to) find out whether such a deal was made.
Please don't jump to the conclusions that protest will be outlawed or thought controlled by implants. That's for Patriot Act 3 to determine. These are the laws in place
right now and they are not being used to stop protests or control anyone's thoughts. Economic interference lawsuits have been going on for hundreds of years.