AdLLaw Initiative Petition Packet 2014
AdLLaw Initiative Petition Packet 2014
AdLLaw Initiative Petition Packet 2014
Petition to the
U.S. President
U.S. Senate
United States
House of
Representatives
Support the
Anti-Defamation
Legacy Law
Initiative
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/protect-the-legacy-of
Greetings,
Words are powerful and leave their effect long after they have been uttered. It is reprehensible
to carelessly damage a persons reputation and legacy by promoting rumor, innuendo, gossip
and sensationalism after they have passed on. We are seeking to make it unlawful to defame a
person who is deceased. The First Amendment is not a free pass to exploit people for
entertainment and profit. Slander and libel are not protected expressions under the First
Amendment while a person is living, and that same protection should extend to people after they
are deceased.
Freedom of speech is our right, and to lose any part of that freedom would be a travesty.
However, with freedom comes responsibility. The California Constitution actually addresses the
issue of responsibility, as follows:
ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS
SEC. 2. (a) Every person may freely speak, write and publish his or her sentiments on all
subjects, being responsible for the abuse of this right. A law may not restrain or abridge
liberty of speech or press.
Our focus is the ABUSE of this right. We must be free to express our thoughts; however, we
are not entitled to express as fact gossip, innuendo, lies, and conjecture. The families and
friends of the deceased should not have to endure defamatory stories presented as facts about
their departed loved ones. Opinions expressed that infringe upon a persons civil right (that
which is good or proper and conforms to fact or truth) should be considered as abusive, harmful,
offensive and infringing upon their quality of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, which are
inalienable rights. This is a form of BULLYING. Therefore, offenders should be held liable and
required to give account for their expressed thoughts, views, or attitudes; especially those based
mainly upon emotion instead of reason or knowledge.
It is time to address the general lack of integrity, responsibility, and accountability on the part of
our news media. The line between responsible journalism and tabloid journalism has become so
blurred that a new term, medialoid has been coined. Too often truth and unbiased objectivity
are missing in the presentation of information. The coverage of Michael Jacksons sudden death
in 2009 is a perfect example of a deceased person being exploited for entertainment and profit.
The medias treatment of Mr. Jackson while he lived was an aggressive and egregious misuse of
the power of words; it is even more disturbing that he continues to be denigrated after his
passing. Although a high profile celebrity is named here as an example of the damage that can
be committed by a media out of control, the potential damage of words used irresponsibly
extends equally to everyone, regardless of fame, wealth, or social standing.
If you believe it should be unlawful for people, including the media, to defame those who have
passed on, please sign this petition. We are proposing a law on a National Level; a cause of
action so that a cause of defamation could be asserted, by the relatives, on behalf of the
deceased.
Website: www.cadeflaw.com or www.cadeflaw.org
Facebook Page: Anti-Defamation Legacy Law Advocates for the Deceased
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AdLLaw.Advocates
PETITION BACKGROUND
We ask all persons; members of our Congressional body and the President of
the United States to support the Anti-Defamation Legacy Law Advocates or
AdLLAaw (Ad Law) Initiative.
Originally we thought to start with California. The California Courts Judicial
Council created a draft Initiative. Although, prepared for California the
language of this document states clearly what we wish to see become law on a
national level.
http://antidefamationlegacylawadvocates.org/2013/07/18/anti-defamationlegacy-law-advocates-adllaw-initiative/
The purpose of this Initiative is to bring about legislation which will include the
deceased among those who can be legally defamed giving their family a
statute upon which to base a civil cause of action. We see this law as any other
civil action. Such a law would be neither frivolous nor a magic pill to cure all
ills, but a possible deterrent against slandering a decedent for most or a
possible tool to address more serious offenders.
Within the past 5 years the list of decedents who are egregiously defamed
surpasses what is common or usual or expected. The list ranges from the
famous to the non-famous.
We Americans are blessed with many rights, but with them come
responsibilities to ensure we do no harm to others through our dangerous
behavior. Intentional defamation of a decedent does more than just hurt their
survivors feelings; it can endanger their health and welfare through false
public perception, judgments and actions taken. We hold dear our First
Amendment rights, but there is nothing in our Constitution about bearing false
witness as a legal right.
We urge you to support the Anti-Defamation Legacy Law (AdLLaw) Initiative.
http://antidefamationlegacylawadvocates.org/
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
PRINTED NAME
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
PRINTED NAME
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
PRINTED NAME
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
PRINTED NAME
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
PRINTED NAME
ADDRESS
STATE/COUNTRY
EMAIL ADDRESS
SIGNATURE
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
Online and hand signature packet Petitions created by Anti-Defamation Legacy Law Advocate Group. Hand petition packet
Revised on June 7, 2014 by MJ Brookins.
Petition Packet and Front Cover Logo created by MJ Brookins of the AdLLaw Advocates
http://antidefamationlegacylawadvocates.org/
www.cadeflaw.com
www.cadeflaw.org