Emotional RTÉ head may sue Obama ball organisers

Agent Smith

The sunday Tribune wrote:

A senior online news journalist with RTÉ is threatening to sue president Barack Obama's inauguration committee for emotional distress after he claims he was unable to gain access to one of the many inaugural balls which took place during last month's event in Washington DC.


Joe Zefran, who is online news editor with RTÉ.ie but who was attending in a personal capacity, claims to have bought eight tickets for general entry to a 'neighbourhood ball'
during last month's inauguration.


He says he paid $250 for the tickets but, because they were purchased too late for them to be sent to him by post, he was told they would be available for collection at the event itself.


But when he got there, he says no collection point was available for the tickets.


As a result he and his friends had to spend the evening in a nearby restaurant.


"There is no accountability at all," he told the Sunday Tribune. "I have officially filed a disputes claim with my credit card company so they will be contacting me with an update soon.


"If that is not successful, I will file a lawsuit with the added expenses of our hair and outfit expenditures as well as emotional distress damages."


Zefran says he spent €55 on a haircut and other money on a tuxedo for the evening and would be seeking a refund for these expenses.


He added that he may also launch a class action lawsuit, as he was aware of others who had experienced similar difficulties.


"I'd have to contact a lawyer who practices in DC, and pull up the receipts for the outfits and hair, the receipts for the tickets, and probably identify an appropriate amount for emotional distress," he said.


A spokesperson for the Presidential Inauguration Committee in Washington DC was unavailable when the Sunday Tribune sought a response.


However, Zefran said he found it "insulting" that, earlier this week, he received an email from the committee offering him a "free inaugural lapel pin" if he spent more than $25 on a "special line of collectibles from Inauguration Day".


This is not the first time that Zefran, or the RTÉ.ie news site he edits, has been in the news.


Last year Fine Gael received an apology from RTÉ after the news website called its plans for segregation of students in schools a "racist Blueshirt idea".


A question on the website last August asked: "Should immigrant students be segregated until they can speak English?" The two answers that could be chosen were "Yes, it's not fair to the other kids" and "No, What kind of racist Blueshirt idea is that?"


The question was in response to a suggestion by the party's education spokesman Brian Hayes that students with little or no English should be educated separately in schools.


A letter sent by Hayes to RTÉ's management, stated: "I would love to know what civil servant or person came up with that question on RTÉ's website.


"It is unacceptable that such a loaded question would be put up by the public service broadcaster on their website."

Link


I think this is Just brilliant. Only here would something like this be reported...

Get over it :rolleyes:

Chucky the tree

€55 on a haircut? What a ****ing twat.

ejmaztec

Wasn't Monica Lewinsky the last one to have a problem with the president's balls? :pac:

hblock21

ejmaztec wrote: »

Wasn't Monica Lewinsky the last one to have a problem with the president's balls? :pac:

AnonoBoy

This is important news. They should dedicate at least 15 minutes of every RTE new bulletin to this matter until the case is cracked.

Definitely.

Tristram

This is not the first time that Zefran, or the RTÉ.ie news site he edits, has been in the news.

So he was responsible for the 'racist blueshirt' piece or where is the part about him being in the news before?

Ostrom

Such a noble profession

Wagon

Gob****e.

super_furry

In related news, Ann Doyle got the wrong change for a pint and a vodka and Coka on Saturday night. The Herald have a a four page spread on it.

Cianos

Maybe I should file lawsuits for all the times I've been refused at the door :pac:

Mark200

"threatening to sue president Barack Obama's inauguration committee for emotional distress"

He might have a better chance if he just tried to sue for a refund....

mike65

I trust Charlie "The Birdman" Bird is on the case.

/deep gulp

"The scenes of emotional distress were clear for all to see, innocent revellers were shocked when Joe Zefran having been turned away with some force by security broke down in tears. Aaron and Lillie Goldschmidt who witnessed the incident, said it reminded them of scenes in Manhatten on 9/11.

Charlie Bird for RTE in Washington DC"

etc!

Fighting Irish

he should be fired

Tristram

super_furry wrote: »

In related news, Ann Doyle got the wrong change for a pint and a vodka and Coka on Saturday night. The Herald have a a four page spread on it.

Please avoid using the words Ann + Doyle + spread in such close conjunction. Thank you!

ejmaztec

Having seen a pic of Zefran, he looks like Alastair MacGowan with a gigantic nose. Perhaps he is Alastair MacGowan with a gigantic nose.

Tristram

You sought out an image or Alastair MacGowan just socked you one and said 'with love, from Zefran'? :pac:

Nehaxak

I'm so glad I pay my TV license so people like this can be employed in RTE :rolleyes:

00112984

says he spent... money on a tuxedo for the evening

Classy bloke.

Davidius

Tristram wrote: »

Please avoid using the words Ann + Doyle + spread in such close conjunction. Thank you!

Did you hear about Ann Doyle's new chocolate spread. It tastes like 12 year old eggs soaked in piss. Just like you would taste if she actually did spre-:pac:

By the way I'm not even sure who Ann Doyle is.

00112984 wrote: »

Classy bloke.

RAGE! :mad:

Thank God I'm not the one paying for the TV license. Will abolish that when I get to power. :pac:Alsofiftypercentincreaseintaxonalcoholbutlet'snotworryaboutthathaha.